In the first Oval Office address of his presidency, U.S. President Barack Obama outlined his commitment to fighting the full impacts of the BP oil spill and reaffirmed his goals for a clean energy future for his nation.
Saying the BP oil spill disaster is the worst environmental disaster America has ever faced, President Obama also called it an “epidemic, one that we will be fighting for months and even years.” Just hours before his speech, a federally-coordinated group of scientists estimated the volume of oil spewing into the Gulf is at least 35,000 barrels a day, and could even be as much as 60,000 barrels every 24 hours.
He also used the opportunity to drum up support for clean energy alternatives, saying “For decades, we’ve talked and talked about the need to end America’s century-long addiction to fossil fuels. And for decades, we have failed to act with the sense of urgency that this challenge requires.”
President Obama admitted the block to change was not only oil industry lobbyists, but also by a lack of political will.
Referring back to the BP oil spill and other issues related to the USA’s fossil fuel addiction, President Obama commented, “We cannot consign our children to this future.”
The President said the transition to clean energy has the potential to grow the USA’s economy and create millions of jobs, but that the transition needed to be accelerated. In the months ahead he says he’ll give all sides fair hearing as to how to best achieve this and warned, “the one approach I will not accept is inaction.”
Further information: Full transcript of President Obama’s first Oval office address
