Obama: Climate Change Threatens US 'Right Now'

Alaska is the visible evidence of a dangerous climate change in the US, said President Obama.

 "This is all real," he said Saturday in his weekly address. "This is happening to our fellow Americans right now," according to thehill.

 "In fact, Alaska's governor recently told me that four villages are in 'imminent danger' and have to be relocated," he said, citing Gov. Bill Walker (I). "Already, rising sea levels are beginning to swallow one island community."

 He added: "Think about that. If another country threatened to wipe out an American town, we'd do everything in our power to protect ourselves. Climate change poses the same threat, right now."

Obama is getting ready for a three-day tour of Alaska starting Monday, and he decided to talk about the climate change. He argued Saturday that there are a lot of natural disasters and economic worries linked with climate change.

 "Alaskans are already living with its effects," Obama said. "More frequent and extensive wildfires. Bigger storm surges as sea ice melts faster. Some of the swiftest shoreline erosion in the world - in some places, more than three feet a year."

He rued that its glaciers are melting quickly, posing a threat to tourism and adding to rising seas. "And if we do nothing, Alaskan temperatures are projected to rise between six and twelve degrees by the end of the century, changing all sorts of industries forever."

His government had taken a number of measures to fight climate change, he said. They included "international cooperation with Arctic nations, clean energy programs and increased safety standards in America's oil industry."

Repairing the climate is vital for America's prosperity, he said.

Interestingly, he is striking the "tricky balance between environmental conservation and energy production". Hence, while he has for long supported the large oil drilling off the Alaskan coast, it is the measure and the fuel that also leads to climate change, according to usatoday.

 "What's happening in Alaska is happening to us," he said. "It's our wakeup call. And as long as I'm president, America will lead the world to meet the threat of climate change before it's too late."