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Week in Review: A Royal Visit, Leading on Climate, and The First Lady's Travel Journal

March 21, 2015 at 5:35 PM ET by Chris Evans

Summary:

From the First Lady's departure to Japan for the White House's Let Girls Learn initiative, to the President's trip to Ohio for a tour of MAGNET and questions at The City Club of Cleveland, the President and First Lady had a productive week. See more in our Week in Review.

This week, the President announced a new executive order that will allow America to lead on climate, traveled to Ohio to answer a few questions at The City Club of Cleveland, hosted the the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and celebrated St. Patrick's day with the Prime Minister of Ireland. The First Lady also had a busy week, heading to Japan and Cambodia to launch key partnerships for the Let Girls Learn initiative.

Find out more about the past week in our latest weekly wrap-up.

Leading by Example

President Obama signed an executive order on Thursday that will help us cut greenhouse gas emissions and set a bold example to other nations. This week’s order positions the federal government to cut their carbon pollution emissions by 40% over 10 years. This would save taxpayers up to $18 billion in energy costs and increase the share of electricity the federal government uses from renewable sources to 30%.

President Obama just took action to cut the Federal Government's carbon pollution emissions → http://t.co/RfVueggeWD pic.twitter.com/hJHqg6PuIN
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 19, 2015

Learn more about the President’s recent actions and how it sets a global example.

“This Progress Is No Accident”

On Wednesday, President Obama traveled to Ohio to tour the Manufacturing and Growth Network's (MAGNET) Innovation Center at Cleveland State University and to take questions from The City Club of Cleveland. The President spoke about the House Republicans' proposed budget and how it would fail to move America forward. "I’m offering a different path," the President said. "The budget I've put forward is built on middle-class economics."

Watch on YouTube

Watch the President’s tour of MAGNET and hear his remarks from The City Club of Cleveland.

Wheels Up

The First Lady departed the White House on Tuesday en route to Japan and Cambodia for a week-long trip centered around her new Let Girls Learn initiative. For the First Lady, this visit is part of a journey that began decades ago -- a journey focused on education, equality, and empowerment. You can follow the First Lady’s trip on social media and by reading her travel journal.

In Kyoto, the First Lady tried her hand at taiko drumming. Check out her travel journal→ http://t.co/V4U7NaGBj1 pic.twitter.com/tjVKCcrmTw
— The First Lady (@FLOTUS) March 20, 2015

Learn more about how Let Girls Learn will help the 62 million girls worldwide who are not in school.

A Royal Visit

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall met with President Obama and Vice President Biden in the Oval Office on Thursday. The mid-afternoon meeting underscored the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom and is part of the Prince and Duchess’ four-day visit to Washington, D.C.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall meet with President Obama and Vice President Biden in the Oval Office

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in the Oval Office, March 19, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

See more highlights from the Prince and Duchess’ trip and see what the President said to them.

Make Everything Green

On Monday, President Obama brought the Irish spirit to the White House in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. In an Oval Office meeting, President Obama congratulated Prime Minister Enda Kenny on the economic progress made in Ireland over the last several years. The President also recognized the tremendous investments made by both American and Irish companies that continue to improve our economy through trade. In celebration of St. Patrick's day, the Prime Minister gave the President a pot o' shamrocks and the White House turned its fountain green.