NEW YORK – After attending President Barack Obama’s speech before the United Nations Climate Summit, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Environment & Public Works committees, gave the following remarks. Senator Cardin was confirmed last week as a Representative of the United States to the 69th UN General Assembly (UNGA).

“Science tells us climate change is real and it is among the biggest global threats facing us today. I have been proud to witness how President Obama has returned America to a position of environmental leadership in the world. As global citizens we are working to protect and improve the livability and health of our planet while strengthening our economy. The notion that we must choose between economic growth and environmental protection is a fallacy. As the President outlined at the UN, our nation has taken bold but practical steps to encourage the development and production of innovative and environmentally friendly manufacturing, as well as sustainable and livable communities.

“We need to better prepare our countries for the effects of climate change we already are starting to see today. Adaptation and resiliency to these changes must become a priority as the global community faces a serious climate-change induced, humanitarian crisis. Broad participation in the UN Climate Summit demonstrates the optimism and seriousness that global partners are showing towards working together to reduce proportional shares of carbon from the atmosphere. While here at the UNGA, I look forward to working with the international community to share ideas on how we all can better advance international initiatives to halt the causes of climate change.”

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