Reactions to President Obama's 2013 State of the Union Address
“We want our children to live in an America that isn’t burdened by debt, that isn’t weakened by inequality, that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet,”—President Obama during his acceptance speech, November 2012
“We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms.”—President Obama during the second Inaugural Address, January 2013
On February 12, 2013, President Obama addressed the nation in his 5th State of the Union Address. Americans see that climate change is a problem that is happening right before our own eyes—and all eyes are focused on President Obama to address the root causes of the issue. Did President Obama address this adequately in his speech? This page is set up to compile civil society reactions to this year’s State of the Union Address. Please check back regularly for updates.
Have an item to add? Send it to Marie Risalvato at mrisalvato@climatenetwork.org
Round-up of Reactions:
- State of the Union: Earthjustice Applauds President Obama's Commitment to Reduce Climate Pollution, Earthjustice Press Release, 2.12.2013
- Statement from Ceres President Mindy Lubber on President Obama's State of the Union Address, Ceres Press Release, 2.13.2013
- Obama Vows to Act on Climate in State of the Union, the Nature Conservancy Blog, 2.13.2013
- President Says Nation Should Heed Science, Act on Climate Change, Union of Concerned Scientists Press Release, 2.12.2013
- Statement by Maggie L. Fox, CEO of the Climate Reality Project on the President's State of the Union Address, the Climate Reality Project Press Release, 2.12.2013
- Statement from Green for All CEO Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins in Response to President Obama's State of the Union Address, Green for All Press Release, 2.12.2013
- President Vows to Take on Climate Change in State of the Union Address, Defenders of Wildlife Press Release, 2.12.2013
- Post-State of the Union Poll: 60 Percent of Americans Support Persidential Action to Fight Ravages of Climate Change, Natural Resources Defense Council Press Release, 2.13.2013
- State of the Union, Climate Solutions Blog, 2.13.2013
- Jewish Environmental Response to the State of the Union, the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, 2.12.2013
- On Climate Change, Obama Delivered, Politico Op-Ed, 2.13.2013
- President Obama Outlines Plan to Tackle Global Warming with Clean Energy, Environment America Press Release, 2.12.2013
- Our Quick Take on the State of the Union, Massachussetts Climate Action Network Press Release, 2.12.2013
- The State of Our Union is Warm, Leaning to Hot, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Blog, 2.12.2013
- EESI Joins Call for Bipartisan Action After Obama's State of the Union Speech, Environment and Energy Study Institute Press Release, 2.12.2013
- Center for Biological Diversity Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address, Center for Biological Diversity Press Release, 2.12.2013
- Statement by EDF President Fred Krupp on the State of the Union, Environmental Defense Fund Press Release, 2.12.2013
- Sierra Club Statement on State of the Union Address, the Sierra Club Press Release, 2.12.2013
- State of the Union Statement, the Wilderness Society Press Release, 2.12.2013
- WRI Response to the State of the Union, World Resources Institute Press Release, 2.12.2013
- Obama to Use Presidential Powers to Tackle Climate Change, Natural Resources Defense Council Press Release, 2.12.2013
- Audubon CEO Comments on State of the Union, National Audubon Society Press Release, 2.12.2013
- Groups Applaud Climate Change Elements of President's State of the Union Address, Center for American Progress; Environment America; Environmental Defense Fund; Earthjustice; League of Conservation Voters; League of Women Voters; Natural Resources Defense Council; Sierra Club; U.S. Climate Action Network Press Release, 2.12.2013
- Climate Hawk Obama: 'If Congress Won't Act Soon to Protect Future Generations, I Will." ThinkProgress Blog, 2.12.2013
- Five Executive Actions Against Climate Chaos: What the President Should Announce in State of the Union Speech, Center for Biological Diversity Press Release, 2.11.2013
(Photo by Pete Souza courtesy of the White House)
More coming soon!
