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Next Prez Will Have to Save the Planet

Winner of election will immediately have to combat climate change

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 28, 2008 2:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – Whether it's John McCain or Barack Obama, the next US president will instantly face "the most momentous political challenge of all time"—saving the world from catastrophic climate change, Carlos Pascual and Strobe Talbott write in the Washington Post. We have 7 years to begin reducing greenhouse gas emissions to avoid catastrophe: a submerged Manhattan, an even dryer Nevada, and millions of "climate refugees" the world over, they note.

The US will have to lead the world in combating climate change, the authors say, and the president will have to rally support from disparate groups: business, nonprofits, academia, and private citizens. And that difficult task is made harder by industry resistance and the inherited "anti-policy" of the Bush administration.

Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior anchors near a wind farm on Koh Lan island, southeast of Bangkok, Thailand Friday, July 11, 2008.
Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior anchors near a wind farm on Koh Lan island, southeast of Bangkok, Thailand Friday, July 11, 2008.   (AP Photo)
Greenpeace volunteers campaign for the implementation of mandatory fuel efficiency norms and create awareness about climate change in Mumbai, India, Thursday, July 17, 2008.
Greenpeace volunteers campaign for the implementation of mandatory fuel efficiency norms and create awareness about climate change in Mumbai, India, Thursday, July 17, 2008.   (AP Photo)
The ice-covered waters near Resolute Bay are seen from the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Louis S. St-Laurent Saturday, July 12, 2008.
The ice-covered waters near Resolute Bay are seen from the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Louis S. St-Laurent Saturday, July 12, 2008.   (AP Photo)
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