November 18, 2008 - President-elect Barack Obama said November 18 that despite a deepening economic crisis, he would still push forward with his aggressive cap on industrial carbon emissions, which he added would be an economic stimulus and create badly needed jobs.
Many Democratic and Republican lawmakers have remained skeptical that such a program, designed to curb climate change, should be pursued as the economy sinks into a recession.
But Obama's remarks were seen as a shot across the bow to Capitol Hill and industry that he intends to pursue his climate change plan.
"My presidency will mark a new chapter in America's leadership on climate change that will strengthen our security and create millions of new jobs in the process," Obama said in taped remarks before more than 800 participants in the Bi-Partisan Governors Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles.
He highlighted his proposed cap on power plant, oil refinery and other industrial emissions, which he said would rejuvenate the US economy.
"That will start with a federal cap-and-trade system," Obama said. "We will establish strong annual targets that set us on a course to reduce emissions to their 1990 levels by 2020 and reduce them an additional 80% by 2050."
Obama touched on international climate talks that are scheduled to take place in Poland in December.
The discussions are part of a series of negotiations under the United Nations that aim to replace the Kyoto Protocol when it expires at the end of 2012.
"Once I take office, you can be sure that the United States will once again engage vigorously in these negotiations," Obama said.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, hosted the meeting and was joined by governors from across the country.
Next page: Aide says Obama will block Bush plan to allow oil, gas drilling on Utah tracts
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