What They’re Saying: Military Leaders Respond to the President’s Call to Battle Climate Change

Ryan Robinson
May 21, 2015
04:41 PM EST

Yesterday, President Obama delivered the commencement address to the 134th Cadet Class of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. The President congratulated the class on all they had achieved over the last four years, but reminded them of the challenges they will face both domestic and abroad; challenges like counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, search and rescue, and disaster relief.

Of the greatest challenges the Cadets will face will be those wrought by our changing climate. As the President stated:

“Around the world, climate change increases the risk of instability and conflict.  Rising seas are already swallowing low-lying lands, from Bangladesh to Pacific islands, forcing people from their homes.  Caribbean islands and Central American coasts are vulnerable, as well.  Globally, we could see a rise in climate change refugees.  And I guarantee you the Coast Guard will have to respond.  Elsewhere, more intense droughts will exacerbate shortages of water and food, increase competition for resources, and create the potential for mass migrations and new tensions.  All of which is why the Pentagon calls climate change a ‘threat multiplier.’” 

It's time to Act on Climate graphic
 

Ryan Robinson is Associate Director of Public Affairs and Liaison to Veterans and Military Families.
Related Topics: Energy and Environment
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Unlocking Wind Power Across America

Posted by Christy Goldfuss and Dan Utech on May 19, 2015 at 04:31 PM EST

Advancing turbine technology will unlock 700,000 more square miles of wind potential and make it a reality in all 50 states.

Now available in 39 states, wind power has emerged as an important source of American clean energy – and there’s potential for even more. Today, the Energy Department released a new report – Enabling Wind Power Nationwide  – that shows how the next generation of wind turbines can help expand wind power in all 50 states.

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Announcing New Steps to Promote Pollinator Health

Posted by John P. Holdren on May 19, 2015 at 09:00 AM EST

Pollinators are critical to the Nation’s economy, food security, and environmental health. Honey bee pollination alone adds more than $15 billion in value to agricultural crops each year, and helps ensure that our diets include ample fruits, nuts, and vegetables. This tremendously valuable service is provided to society by honey bees, native bees and other insect pollinators, birds, and bats.

Pollinator Strategy - 2015

A honey bee, with pollen attached to its hind leg, pollinating a watermelon flower. (Photo by Stephen Ausmus/USDA)

But pollinators are struggling. Last year, beekeepers reported losing about 40% of honey bee colonies, threatening the viability of their livelihoods and the essential pollination services their bees provide to agriculture. Monarch butterflies, too, are in jeopardy. The number of overwintering Monarchs in Mexico’s forests has declined by 90% or more over the past two decades, placing the iconic annual North American Monarch migration at risk. 

That’s why last June, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum directing an interagency Task Force to create a Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators. Today, under the leadership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Task Force is releasing its Strategy, with three overarching goals:

  1. Reduce honey bee colony losses to economically sustainable levels;
  2. Increase monarch butterfly numbers to protect the annual migration; and
  3. Restore or enhance millions of acres of land for pollinators through combined public and private action.

The Strategy released today and its accompanying science-based Pollinator Research Action Plan outline needs and priority actions to better understand pollinator losses and improve pollinator health. These actions will be supported by coordination of existing Federal research efforts and accompanied by a request to Congress for additional resources to respond to the pollinator losses that are being experienced.

Increasing the quantity and quality of habitat for pollinators is a major part of this effort—with actions ranging from the construction of pollinator gardens at Federal buildings to the restoration of millions of acres of Federally managed lands and similar actions on private lands. To support these habitat-focused efforts, USDA and the Department of Interior are today issuing a set of Pollinator-Friendly Best Management Practices for Federal Lands, providing  practical guidance for planners and managers with land stewardship responsibilities. 

The President has emphasized the need for an “all hands on deck” approach to promoting pollinator health, including engagement of citizens and communities and the forging of public-private partnerships. To foster collaboration, the interagency Pollinator Health Task Force will work toward developing a Partnership Action Plan that guides coordination with the many state, local, industry, and citizen groups with interests in and capacities to help tackle the challenge facing pollinators.

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LA CASA BLANCA

Oficina del Secretario de Prensa

PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA

11 de mayo de 2015

HOJA INFORMATIVA: La inversión de Estados Unidos en los nuevos emprendedores del mundo

Hoy que los emprendedores del mundo se reúnen en un evento en la Casa Blanca, el presidente Obama anunció varias medidas para aumentar el apoyo a los nuevos emprendedores, tanto aquí en Estados Unidos como en todo el mundo. En primer lugar, el presidente convirtió la inversión en mujeres y jóvenes emprendedores en la prioridad principal de los programas de emprendimiento mundial de su gobierno. En segundo lugar, antes de su viaje a la Cumbre Mundial del Emprendimiento en Nairobi en julio de este año, el presidente ha llamado a la acción, desafiando a compañías, organizaciones e individuos a aumentar sus inversiones en nuevos emprendedores del mundo. En tercer lugar, el presidente anunció nueve nuevos embajadores presidenciales para el emprendimiento mundial, enlistando aún más del mejor talento estadounidense para expandir las fronteras de la inspiración, la oportunidad y el desarrollo en todo el mundo. Por último, reconoció la creación de la coalición “Spark Global Entrepreneurship” (Iniciativa de Impulso al Espíritu Empresarial Mundial), compuesta por organizaciones líderes de emprendimiento que apoyarán su llamado a la acción y conectarán, coordinarán y comunicarán mejor las iniciativas de emprendimiento en todo el mundo.

Aumento del apoyo mundial a las mujeres y jóvenes emprendedores

Estados Unidos está convirtiendo el empoderamiento de la mujer y los jóvenes en un objetivo central de sus programas de emprendimiento mundial. Hoy, a pesar de que la innovación y el emprendimiento se extienden rápidamente por todo el mundo, existen muchos grupos marginados que no pueden lograr sus aspiraciones empresariales. El acceso al capital, a la capacitación y a mercados, así como las barreras culturales y legales, continúan impidiendo que millones de personas comiencen sus propios emprendimientos. Por este motivo, el presidente instruyó a los programas estadounidenses a aumentar sus esfuerzos por atraer inversión para mujeres y jóvenes emprendedores. En 2014, la administración fijó una meta para sus programas de emprendimiento mundial (en inglés) bajo los auspicios de la Iniciativa de Impulso al Espíritu Empresarial Mundial del gobierno estadounidense para generar más de mil millones de dólares en inversiones privadas para los nuevos emprendedores de todo el mundo para fines de 2017. La mitad de esta meta será específicamente para mujeres y jóvenes emprendedores.

Este mayor énfasis se basa en una sólida base de programas que han sido pioneros en la participación con nuevos emprendedores de todo el mundo en los últimos años. Las mujeres y los jóvenes emprendedores se benefician actualmente de intercambios representativos ofrecidos por las iniciativas del presidente para jóvenes líderes en África (en inglés), el sureste de Asia (en inglés) y ahora en Las Américas, además de programas como el Programa de emprendimiento para mujeres africanas (en inglés), y el Programa de emprendimientos de la mujer en Las Américas [WEAmericas]. Como resultado del anuncio de hoy, el gobierno expandirá las oportunidades para las mujeres y los jóvenes emprendedores en otros programas mundiales del gobierno de Estados Unidos.

Llamado a la acción

Durante el evento de hoy, el presidente hizo un llamado a la acción a compañías, organizaciones e individuos de todo el mundo para que aumenten su apoyo a nuevos emprendedores, especialmente a mujeres y jóvenes, en particular de cara a la Cumbre Mundial del Emprendimiento de este año en Nairobi. Este apoyo puede producirse en forma de inversiones financieras, mentores, redes de contactos profesionales, educación y programas de intercambio. Al colocar a las mujeres y a los jóvenes en el centro de nuestros esfuerzos, el gobierno estadounidense llevará emprendimiento, innovación y empoderamiento a comunidades desfavorecidas en todo el mundo. Pueden unirse a la iniciativa haciendo un compromiso en www.state.gov/spark (en inglés). Se presentará un informe sobre las promesas iniciales presentadas como respuesta al llamado a la acción en la Cumbre en Nairobi. La cumbre proporcionará una plataforma para elevar y conectar estos compromisos. Dos eventos de la Iniciativa de Impulso al Espíritu Empresarial Mundial tendrán lugar en camino a Nairobi. El primero será organizado por el gobierno estadounidense en Madrid, España, a mediados de junio, y el segundo en Lagos, Nigeria, a principios de julio. Estos eventos internacionales ofrecerán la oportunidad de atraer apoyo adicional para el desafío plateado por el presidente. Mientras tanto, aquí en el país, el presidente se concentra en garantizar que los infrarrepresentados en el emprendimiento en Estados Unidos tengan la oportunidad de contribuir plenamente con sus talentos, y por ello este verano se celebrará por primera vez en la Casa Blanca el Día de Demostración (White House Demo Day, en inglés), centrado en el emprendimiento inclusivo.

Embajadores Presidenciales para el Emprendimiento Mundial (PAGE)

Establecida por el presidente Obama en 2014, la iniciativa “Embajadores Presidenciales para el Emprendimiento Mundial” (PAGE, Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreurship, en inglés) emplea las habilidades, redes profesionales y recursos de los principales emprendedores estadounidenses para desarrollar la próxima generación de empresarios, tanto en el país como en el extranjero. Cada miembro de PAGE ha desarrollado una iniciativa representativa, diseñada para realizar contribuciones significativas a la meta del gobierno estadounidense de generar más de 1.000 millones de dólares para los nuevos emprendedores del mundo. Con la adición de los nuevos nueve miembros de PAGE anunciada hoy, PAGE cuenta con 17 miembros activos. La clase inicial de miembros de PAGE apoyó el emprendimiento creando nuevas herramientas para los emprendedores; haciendo presentaciones en importantes reuniones internacionales como la Cumbre Mundial del Emprendimiento y la cumbre de becarios Mandela-Washington; y acompañando a autoridades del gobierno en sus viajes para abogar por las mejoras en el entorno empresarial en todo el mundo.

Los nuevos miembros de PAGE son:

Brian Chesky, cofundador y director general, Airbnb (San Francisco, CA)

Antonio Gracias, director general y jefe de inversiones, Valor Equity (Chicago, IL)

Julie Hanna, presidenta ejecutiva de la junta general, Kiva (San Francisco, CA)

Elizabeth Holmes, fundadora y directora general, Theranos (Palo Alto, CA)

Daymond John, director general de FUBU y Shark Branding (Nueva York, NY)

Daniel Lubetzky, fundador y director general, KIND Snacks (Nueva York, NY)

Alison Rosenthal, vicepresidenta, Strategic Partnerships Wealthfront, Inc. (Palo Alto, CA)

Debbie Sterling, directora general y fundadora, GoldieBlox (San Francisco, CA)

Andrew Yang, fundador y director general, Venture for America (Nueva York, NY)

Coalición Spark Global Entrepreneurship (Iniciativa de Impulso al Espíritu Empresarial Mundial)
Luego de que el gobierno de Estados Unidos lanzara su iniciativa “Spark Global Entrepreneurship” (Iniciativa de Impulso al Espíritu Empresarial Mundial) el pasado noviembre, las organizaciones emprendedoras líderes se reunieron para formar una coalición sombrilla. El objetivo de la Coalición de Iniciativa de Impulso al Espíritu Empresarial Mundial es conectar, coordinar y crear metas comunes en los esfuerzos de los sectores público, privado y sin fines de lucro para hacer progresar el emprendimiento en el mundo. La coalición ayudará a que progresen los esfuerzos de la Iniciativa de Impulso al Espíritu Empresarial Mundial del gobierno estadounidense para invertir en nuevos emprendedores al conectar a los participantes de estos programas con recursos, redes profesionales y oportunidades. Una de sus primeras actividades será trabajar con el Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos para coordinar asociaciones para la Cumbre Mundial del Emprendimiento de este verano en Kenia.

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Connecting America’s Communities with Actionable Climate Science

Posted by Tamara Dickinson on May 06, 2015 at 03:27 PM EST

A year ago today, hundreds of the country’s top climate scientists confirmed that climate change is affecting every region across America in the third U.S. National Climate Assessment (NCA) – the most comprehensive scientific report on domestic climate change impacts ever generated. Since then, communities, localities, and states have continued to use scientific information from the NCA and elsewhere to inform action and make resilience-related decisions on the ground.

Today, in an effort to shine a light on the extraordinary work being done at the regional level and to better understand and address local scale climate-change impacts, President Obama’s Science Advisor John Holdren spent the day with community leaders, scientists, and students at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln (UNL), where researchers are conducting cutting-edge work to develop and deploy actionable climate science.

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Taking Action for America’s PrepareAthon!

Posted by Amy Pope, Christy Goldfuss, and John Holdren on April 30, 2015 at 10:24 AM EST

When a disaster hits, Americans often have to act fast to keep their families safe and protect their homes and businesses from harm. But responding to an emergency takes more than fast action. To ensure an effective response, Americans must prepare in advance to identify the risks they face, know which steps to take to prepare, and understand their community’s plan.

That’s the idea behind America’s PrepareAthon! National Day of Action. As a nation, we’ve made great progress building and sustaining national preparedness, but we still face diverse threats that challenge our collective security and resilience. And today, individuals, families, and communities across the country are coming together to take action to prepare for some of those threats, including tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, and winter storms.

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Asked and Answered: Josie on the Importance of Protecting the Everglades

Max Sgro
Max Sgro
April 24, 2015
03:25 PM EST

This is the latest post in our "Asked and Answered" series, in which we periodically feature an exchange between the President -- or a Senior Administration Official -- and an American who wrote him. Check back soon for more -- and if you'd like to write the President yourself, you can do so here.

Every day, the White House receives thousands of letters and emails from Americans across the country. I work in the Office of Presidential Correspondence, and our job is to sort and read through all of those messages, and make sure they get to the right people for responses. Sometimes, letters to the President are shared with his Senior Advisors, either by the President or directly from our office.

In the spirit of Earth Day, we've been reviewing and sharing letters from Americans speaking out about climate change and the importance of preserving our nation's beautiful natural places, and we came across Josie's note from May 2013. While a student at Globe University in Wisconsin, Josie wrote us about the importance of preserving and protecting the Florida Everglades, where she and her family would often vacation when she was a child. That's something the President agrees with wholeheartedly, which is exactly why he headed to this very region this week to take a tour and deliver remarks.

So Senior Advisor to the President Brian Deese, whose duties include overseeing climate, conservation, and energy policy, decided to send an additional reply to Josie. He let Josie know that we agree with her, and shared some of the actions the President has taken in the areas of conservation and preservation since Josie wrote us.

Here's the original letter Josie sent — give it a read, and if you've got a place of your own that you're fighting to preserve, share it with us here.

Max Sgro is the Assistant Director for Constituent Engagement in the Office of Presidential Correspondence.
Related Topics: Energy and Environment, Inside the White House, Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin

Earth Day 2015: The President and Bill Nye in Conversation, Everglades, Florida

April 24, 2015 | 6:15 | Public Domain

As you know, President Obama celebrated Earth Day this week by visiting the Florida Everglades where he spoke about the threat that climate change poses to our economy and to the world, in the latest part of his effort to call attention to act on the threat of climate change. The President also announced how we're investing millions in new funding to protect our parks, as well as new actions the Department of Agriculture will take in partnership with farmers, ranchers and forest land owners to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions. While in Florida the President sat down with Bill Nye the Science Guy in the Everglades to discuss climate change, conservation, and science education in America.

Download mp4 (193.2MB) | ()

Happy Earth Day: Here's What You Said You're Fighting For

Chris Evans
April 22, 2015
07:44 PM EST

Earlier this week, we asked White House email subscribers to share a photo of the outdoors spot that they would fight to protect from the effects of climate change. Today, we sent the following message to the White House email list highlighting some of the amazing responses we received. 

Didn't get this message? Sign up for email updates here.

President Obama celebrated the 45th-annual Earth Day by spending the afternoon exploring the Everglades in southern Florida. As a 1.5-million-acre wetland ecosystem, the Everglades is home to more than 350 species of birds, both alligators and crocodiles, and a wide diversity of plant life that gives shelter and beauty to the region.

See the highlights from the President's trip here.

Unfortunately, the Everglades is currently threatened. Each day, climate change is negatively affecting the nature, species, and beauty of the region. But climate change isn't just hurting the Everglades -- it's hurting our parks, ecosystems, and outdoor spaces in every state and every region of America.

That's why on Monday, we asked you to join us in taking a stand. We called on you to help make this real for your friends, family, and followers on social media by sharing a photo of your favorite outdoors spot that you'd fight to protect. And we were overwhelmed by your responses.

Here are a few of the places that people said they're fighting for:

Deer at Berryessa Snow Mountain

"I will fight to protect the Berryessa Snow Mountain region in California. It's home to hundreds of animal species, including one of my favorites, the Black Tailed Mule Deer." -- Mary H.

Related Topics: Energy and Environment, California, Florida

Historic Photos: A Look Back at Presidential and Cabinet Trips to the Everglades

Jenna Brayton
Jenna Brayton
April 22, 2015
12:40 PM EST

Today, in honor of Earth Day, President Obama is traveling to the Everglades – the tropical wetlands in the southern part of Florida.

Since 1970, we've commemorated Earth Day on April 22 each year, with worldwide celebrations in support of environmental protection. President Obama is visiting the Everglades this year to highlight how climate change is already damaging American treasures like our National Parks, as well as how climate change will affect our economy, our personal health, and our national security. The Everglades, one of the most beautiful and environmentally sensitive regions in the country, is a key source of drinking water for a third of Florida’s residents, and significantly boosts Florida’s revenue and economy through tourism at the park.

Read more here about the steps President Obama and his Administration are taking to fight climate change, and protect our national treasures like the Everglades.

President Obama isn't the first President or Cabinet member to visit the Everglades, though. Check out a few photos of other Presidential and Cabinet trips to the Everglades over the years:

President Truman in the Everglades

Harry S. Truman speaking at the dedication of Everglades National Park in Florida. Also present and visible behind the President are (from left to right): John Steelman, Clark Clifford, Admiral William D. Leahy, Stanley Woodward, and Major General Harry Vaughan. December 6, 1947. (by the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum)

Related Topics: Energy and Environment, Florida