President-Elect Obama Vows "New Chapter" in Climate Change Leadership

President-elect Barack Obama reasserted his intention to aggressively combat global warming and develop sources of renewable energy. Speaking via taped message to a climate change conference, Obama said denial of climate change “is no longer an option,” and vowed to bring stronger leadership on the issue to Washington. “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,” said Obama, who supports a federal cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions. He has promised new targets that would reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050. He also pledged to invest $150 billion into clean energy development in the next 10 years. Obama said he has asked U.S. lawmakers attending the UN Climate Change Conference in Poland next month to report back to him on what the U.S. can do to take the lead on global climate policy.