Obama Inauguration 2013 Speech: President Talks Climate Change, But Will He Take Action?

The time to act on climate change is now, President Barack Obama insisted in his 2013 inauguration address, noting previously stated intentions to make the issue a priority of his second term in office.

Delivering his speech to an estimated crowd of 800,000, Obama said failure to respond to climate change was a betrayal to future generations.

"Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms," Obama said. "The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it."

The President continued, presenting "green" technology in a positive light, arguing that the U.S. "must claim its promise." The focus on renewable energy forms and technology resonated particularly with scientists and environmental groups.

"I was reassured to see him reaffirm that facts matter, and that the science overwhelmingly indicates that climate change is not only real, but is already posing a serious threat to society," Michael Mann, a climate scientist at Pennsylvania State University, told LiveScience. The President still needs to flesh out the details of his climate policy, though, Mann added.

Presidents rarely discuss the environment in detail during inaugural speeches. Obama only made passing references to climate change in 2010, suggesting the nation should be rolling back "the specter of a warming planet." President Bill Clinton made just one reference for a clean environment in each of his inaugural speeches in 1993 and 1997, and never specifically mentioned global warming.

But this year Obama faced climate change head-on.

"We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity," Obama said. "We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations."

Environmental groups praised Obama's focus on climate change during the speech.

"He did a good job laying out a narrative about climate change and why we should all care about taking meaningful action," said Travis Franck, a policy analyst Climate Interactive. "It will affect our children and grandchildren in many ways: their economic opportunities, their health, their safety from disasters, their recreation activities, and their sense of pride in America and its place in the world."

President Obama's direct comments, stating the need to actively focus on addressing climate change represent an about face from decades of presidential rhetoric, but the question still remains: will the government take action? Climate experts say game-changing policies are unlikely to make it through Congress in Obama's second term. The President does have some leeway to play with to make regulatory changes with executive action, though, they note.

"It would have been much more encouraging if he went on to say that he would put the power of his office into the fight to get the country onto a sustainable energy path, by working for regulations and legislation that would incentivize energy efficiency and the transition to clean energy and make the burning of fossil fuels less attractive," Elizabeth Sawin, the co-director of Climate Interactive, told LiveScience.

"Citizens who care about clean energy and a livable planet are going to need to continue to organize and pressure elected officials, including the president, if we want to see concrete action and climate-protecting policy coming from Washington," Sawin said.