No nation -- including ours -- is immune to climate change

Earlier today, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon convened a Climate Summit, where President Obama and other world leaders gathered to discuss their actions and commitments to tackle the growing problem of climate change.

John Podesta, Counselor to the President - The White House | @Podesta44

In his address at today's summit, the President made one thing very clear:

No nation -- including ours -- is immune to climate change

[caption id="attachment_791" align="alignright" width="640"] The author John Podesta at The White House with President Obama[/caption]

He's right. We're already feeling the effects -- the past decade has been America's hottest on record. In the west, the wildfire season starts earlier in the spring, lasts later into the fall, and burns more acreage. And California is experiencing record drought.

But the worst part: Carbon emissions across the globe are still rising, and that will make the effects of climate change even more damaging over time.

Find out how President Obama is taking action -- then take the next step and stand with him.

[caption width="515" align="alignleft"] Find out more about the state of our climate[/caption]

Last year, President Obama put forward a Climate Action Plan that will cut carbon pollution, prepare the U.S. for the effects of climate change, and lead international efforts to fight climate change across the globe.

And we're making progress. In 2009, the President pledged that we would cut our carbon emissions in the range of 17% below 2005 levels by 2020. We're on pace to meet that target.

Just last week, the Administration announced new actions to cut carbon pollution by almost 300 million metric tons through 2030. That's the equivalent of taking more than 60 million cars off the road for a year, at the same time saving American consumers $10 billion on their energy bills.

These are tangible, important steps. Yet even though we're making ambitious reductions in our carbon emissions while making critical new investments in clean energy, the reality is that climate change is worsening faster than our efforts to address it. As the President made clear today, all the world's major economies have to step up for us to successfully protect our planet.

We also know that most people get it. Just this past Sunday, nearly 400,000 people -- including the U.N. Secretary-General -- marched in the streets of New York to show their support for action against climate change. And similar events were held on the same day in more than 160 other countries.

Fighting climate change isn't an option -- it's an obligation. We may not see the full fruit of our efforts in our lifetimes, but we owe it to our children and our grandchildren to leave this world a better place.

See the current state of our climate, and learn more about the President's plan to protect our planet.

Thanks,

John

President Obama speaks on airstrikes against ISIL in Syria

Last night, President Obama ordered American armed forces to begin targeted airstrikes against ISIL targets in Syria.

The White House - info@mail.whitehouse.gov

Speaking from the White House South Lawn today before heading to the United Nations General Assembly, the President made it clear that these strikes are part of the U.S. campaign to deliver one message on ISIL: They will find no safe haven.

The U.S. military actions also included strikes to disrupt plotting against the U.S. and our allies by the Khorasan Group -- a cell of seasoned al Qaeda operatives in Syria.

Watch President Obama speak from the South Lawn this morning.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-HNfoyikzs]

In his statement, the President made clear that the fight against these terrorists "is not America's fight alone":

"The people and governments of the Middle East are rejecting ISIL, and standing up for the peace and security that the people of the world deserve. Not since the Gulf War has the United States been joined in direct military action by such a broad coalition of Arab partners. Meanwhile, we will move forward with our plan -- supported by bipartisan majorities in Congress -- to ramp up our effort to train and equip the Syrian opposition, who are the best counter-weight to ISIL and the Assad regime."
President Obama also previewed his trip to the U.N. General Assembly, where he'll continue building support for the effort against ISIL:

"Over the next several days, I will be meeting Prime Minister Abadi of Iraq and with friends and allies at the United Nations to continue building support for the coalition that is confronting this profound threat to peace security. This overall effort will take time. There are challenges ahead. But we’re going to do what is necessary to take the fight to this terrorist group -- for the security of our country, the region, and the entire world."
President Obama speaks at the U.N. General Assembly tomorrow at 10:15 a.m. ET, where he'll talk more about these issues. Be sure to watch on WhiteHouse.gov/Live.

Five things you need to know about ISIL

President Obama spoke to service men and women at MacDill Air Force Base yesterday about the U.S. strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL -- a terrorist organization that is killing innocent, unarmed civilians in both Iraq and Syria. ISIL, also known as ISIS or the Islamic State, is also responsible for the brutal murders of American journalists Jim Foley and Steven Sotloff.

The White House

[youtube="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_iIWx84dyk"]

Here are the key points the President made yesterday regarding ISIL and our strategy to defeat their forces:

1. ISIL is threatening America and our allies.

Our intelligence community has not yet detected specific plots from ISIL against our homeland, but they have repeatedly threatened our core interests, including our personnel, our embassies, our consulates, and our facilities in Iraq, Syria, and in the broader Middle East. "If left unchecked, they could pose a growing threat to the United States," he said.

2. The U.S. continues to conduct targeted airstrikes against ISIL.

The U.S. Air Force has conducted more than 160 airstrikes against ISIL, successfully protecting our personnel and facilities, killing ISIL fighters, and giving space for Iraqi and Kurdish forces to reclaim key territory. “They’ve helped our partners on the ground break ISIL sieges; helped rescue civilians cornered on a mountain; helped save the lives of thousands of innocent men, women and children,” the President said.

3. American forces that have been deployed to Iraq do not and will not have a combat mission.

"As your Commander-in-Chief, I will not commit you, and the rest of our Armed Forces, to fighting another ground war in Iraq," the President told servicemembers. Along with our airstrikes, U.S. forces will train, equip, advise, and assist local partners on the ground "so that they can secure their own countries’ futures."

4. This is not and will not be America's fight alone.

The U.S. will lead a broad coalition of countries who have a stake in this fight. France and the UK are already flying with us over Iraq, and other countries have committed to join this effort. Saudi Arabia has agreed to host American efforts to train and equip Syrian opposition forces. Australia and Canada are going to send military advisors to Iraq, while Germany is sending paratroopers to help offer training. Arab nations have agreed to strengthen their support for Iraq’s new government, a key ally in our strategy to defeat ISIL.

International partners will help us cut off ISIL funding, gather intelligence, and prevent foreign fighters from entering -- or leaving -- the Middle East. And nearly 30 nations have joined American humanitarian relief to help civilians, including Sunni, Shia, Christian, Yezidi, or other religious minorities, that ISIL has driven from their homes.

5. Congress should provide the authorities and resources the U.S. military needs to succeed.

The President has called on Congress to support our military with the necessary resources to train and equip Syrian opposition fighters. As he has said, America’s leadership position is strongest when the President and Congress work together and show a united front.

"Sending our servicemembers into harm’s way is not a decision I ever take lightly," the President said. "It is the hardest decision I make as President. Nothing else comes close."

But this strategy will require the best military force in the world:

[caption id="attachment_555" align="aligncenter" width="640"] President Obama spoke to service men and women at MacDill Air Force Base about the U.S. strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL[/caption]

Frankly, there just aren’t a lot of other folks who can perform in the same ways -- in fact, there are none. And there are some things only we can do. There are some capabilities only we have. That’s because of you -- your dedication, your skill, your work, your families supporting you, your training, your command structure. Our Armed Forces are unparalleled and unique. And so when we’ve got a big problem somewhere around the world, it falls on our shoulders. And sometimes that’s tough. But that’s what sets us apart. That’s why we’re America. That’s what the stars and stripes are all about.


"In an uncertain world full of breathtaking change, the one constant is American leadership."

And, because of the strength and dedication of America’s military, the President made clear that we will send an unmistakable message to ISIL:


Whether in Iraq or in Syria, these terrorists will learn the same thing that the leaders of al Qaeda already know: We mean what we say; our reach is long; if you threaten America, you will find no safe haven. We will find you eventually.