Barack Obama Gives Climate Change Call-To-Action at Coast Guard Graduation

Video Caption: The newest ensigns sworn into the U.S. Coast Guard, divested themselves of all symbols of their cadet life. (Credit: U.S. Coast Guard Academy)

Article begins below the video.

In his keynote address to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduates, President Barack Obama said the Coast Guard may be the smallest branch of the military, but is also the loudest.

He is counting on that level of enthusiasm as the ensigns branch out into life post-graduation, particularly when it comes to climate change.

“Now, I know there are still some folks back in Washington who refuse to admit that climate change is real,” Obama said. “And on a day like today, it’s hard to get too worried about it. There are folks who will equivocate. They’ll say, ‘You know, I’m not a scientist.’ Well, I’m not either. But the best scientists in the world know that climate change is happening.”

To the politicians who say they care about military readiness, Obama said by default, they ought to care about climate change too.

“Climate change poses a threat to the readiness of our forces,” he said. “Many of our military installations are on the coast, including, of course, our Coast Guard stations. Around Norfolk, high tides and storms increasingly flood parts of our Navy base and an airbase. In Alaska, thawing permafrost is damaging military facilities. Out West, deeper droughts and longer wildfires could threaten training areas our troops depend on.”

And when it comes to the military, Obama said the branches deserve better.

“We’re moving ahead with new Fast Response Cutters, new Offshore Patrol Cutters,” he said. “We’re on track to have a full fleet of new National Security Cutters — the most advanced in history. And I’ve made it clear that I will not accept a budget that continues these draconian budget cuts called sequestration, because our nation and our military and our Coast Guard deserve better.”

The threat of climate change is real, Obama said.

“The science is indisputable,” he said. “The fossil fuels we burn release carbon dioxide, which traps heat. And the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are now higher than they have been in 800,000 years. The planet is getting warmer. Fourteen of the 15 hottest years on record have been in the past 15 years. Last year was the planet’s warmest year ever recorded.”

A Changing Climate Cuts to the Core of Service

“Cadets, the threat of a changing climate cuts to the very core of your service,” the President said. “You’ve been drawn to water -— like the poet who wrote, ‘the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.’ You know the beauty of the sea, but you also know its unforgiving power.”

He cited the impacts and threats of climate change:

• Rising seas swallowing low-lying land
• People forced to evacuate homes
• More intense droughts resulting in water and food shortages
• Increased competition for resources
• Potential for mass migrations
• More extreme storms
• Arctic sea ice vanishing

Climate Change Threatens Homeland Security

“Climate change, and especially rising seas, is a threat to our homeland security, our economic infrastructure, the safety and health of the American people,” Obama said. “Already, today, in Miami and Charleston, streets now flood at high tide. Along our coasts, thousands of miles of highways and roads, railways, energy facilities are all vulnerable. It’s estimated that a further increase in sea level of just one foot by the end of this century could cost our nation $200 billion.

In New York Harbor, the sea level is already a foot higher than a century ago -- which was one of the reasons Superstorm Sandy put so much of lower Manhattan underwater. During Sandy, the Coast Guard mounted a heroic response, along with our National Guard and Reserve. But rising seas and stronger storms will mean more disaster response missions. And we need the Coast Guard to be ready, because you are America’s maritime first responder.”

Going Forward

Obama discussed what he wants to see in the future:

“As men and women in uniform, you know that it can be just as important, if not more important, to prevent threats before they can cause catastrophic harm. And only way -- the only way -- the world is going to prevent the worst effects of climate change is to slow down the warming of the planet.

Some warming is now inevitable. But there comes a point when the worst effects will be irreversible. And time is running out. And we all know what needs to happen. It’s no secret. The world has to finally start reducing its carbon emissions -- now. And that’s why I’ve committed the United States to leading the world on this challenge.

Over the past six years, we’ve done more than ever to reduce harmful emissions, unprecedented investments to cut energy waste in our homes and building, standards to double the fuel efficiency of our vehicles. We’re using more clean energy than ever before -- more solar, more wind. It’s all helped us reduce our carbon emissions more than any other advanced nation. And today, we can be proud that our carbon pollution is near its lowest levels in almost two decades. But we’ve got to do more.

So, going forward, I’ve committed to doubling the pace at which we cut carbon pollution. And that means we all have to step up. And it will not be easy. It will require sacrifice, and the politics will be tough. But there is no other way. We have to make our homes and buildings more efficient. We have to invest in more energy research and renewable technologies. We have to move ahead with standards to cut the amount of carbon pollution in our power plants. And working with other nations, we have to achieve a strong global agreement this year to start reducing the total global emission -- because every nation must do its part. Every nation.”

‘We Need the Coast Guard More Than Ever’

Obama said:

“We need you to safeguard our ports against all threats, including terrorism. We need you to respond in times of disaster or distress and lead your rescue teams as they jump out of perfectly good helicopters. We need you in the Caribbean and Central America, interdicting drugs before they reach our streets and damage our kids. We need you in the Middle East; in the Gulf; alongside our Navy; in places like West Africa, where you helped keep the ports open so that the world could fight a deadly disease. We need you in the Asia Pacific, to help our partners train their own coast guards to uphold maritime security and freedom of navigation in waters vital to our global economy.

These are all demanding missions. The pace of operations is intense. And these are tight fiscal times for all our services, including the Coast Guard. But we are going to keep working to give you the boats and the cutters and the aircraft that you need to complete the missions we ask of you.”

A Shout-Out to New London

Obama said he mentioned New London in his State of the Union address and the Internet responded accordingly.

“And it’s true, some folks across the country didn’t quite get the reference,” he said. “One person tweeted that they were pretty sure I just made this up. Then there was one person in town who asked, ‘Did Obama name drop New London?’ So let me do it again. It is a great honor to be back in New London, at the United States Coast Guard Academy, to salute the newest ensigns of America’s oldest, continuous maritime service.”

When Times Get Tough, Think Back to This Moment

“And as you embark on your life of service, as you man your stations, and head to the seas, and take to the skies, should the sea begin to surge and the waves swell and the wind blows hard against your face, I want you to think back to this moment -- to feel what you feel in your hearts today,” Obama said.

He continued:

“And if you remember all that you’ve learned here on the Thames — how you came here and came together, out of many one, to achieve as a team what you could never do alone -- if you resolve to stay worthy of traditions that endure -- honor, respect, devotion to duty -- if you heed the wisdom and humility of a petty officer second class from Oklahoma, to think not of yourself, but what you can give to this world — then I’m confident that you will truly go where few dare. And you will rise to meet the challenges that not only face our country, but face our planet. And your legacy will be a nation that is stronger and safer for generations to come. “

(Photos: Screenshots from graduation live-stream)