Issued on: 08/09/2021
US President Joe Biden says the world is in 'peril' from climate change
MANDEL NGAN AFP
New York (AFP)
President Joe Biden said Tuesday the world faces a "code red" on climate change danger as he visited damage from the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in New York and New Jersey.
"We've got to listen to the scientists and the economists and the national security experts. They all tell us this is code red," Biden said in the hard-hit New York borough of Queens, which he toured after visiting Manville, New Jersey.
"The nation and the world are in peril. That's not hyperbole. That is a fact," he said
Biden -- who is pushing a giant infrastructure spending bill, including major funding for the green economy -- argues that extreme weather across the United States this summer is a harbinger of worse to come.
"This is everybody's crisis," he said in the speech. "These disasters aren't going to stop. They're only going to come with more frequency and ferocity."
Systemic upgrading and hardening of the nation's infrastructure is an urgent need, he asserted, pointing to proposed changes such as flood-proofing power stations, raising up buildings and burying electrical lines.
"You can't just build back to what it was before, because another tornado, another 10 inches of rain is going produce the same kind of results," Biden said in earlier remarks in New Jersey.
New York (AFP)
President Joe Biden said Tuesday the world faces a "code red" on climate change danger as he visited damage from the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in New York and New Jersey.
"We've got to listen to the scientists and the economists and the national security experts. They all tell us this is code red," Biden said in the hard-hit New York borough of Queens, which he toured after visiting Manville, New Jersey.
"The nation and the world are in peril. That's not hyperbole. That is a fact," he said
Biden -- who is pushing a giant infrastructure spending bill, including major funding for the green economy -- argues that extreme weather across the United States this summer is a harbinger of worse to come.
"This is everybody's crisis," he said in the speech. "These disasters aren't going to stop. They're only going to come with more frequency and ferocity."
Systemic upgrading and hardening of the nation's infrastructure is an urgent need, he asserted, pointing to proposed changes such as flood-proofing power stations, raising up buildings and burying electrical lines.
"You can't just build back to what it was before, because another tornado, another 10 inches of rain is going produce the same kind of results," Biden said in earlier remarks in New Jersey.
US President Joe Biden takes part in a briefing with local leaders in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
MANDEL NGAN AFP
"I think we're at one of those inflection points where we're going to act or we're going to be in real, real trouble. Our kids are going to be in real trouble."
Ida struck the US Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane, bringing major flooding and knocking out power to large parts of the heavily populated region, which is also a main hub for the oil industry. Just last week, Biden made a similar tour to Louisiana, where Ida had originally mand landfall.
However, the departing remnants of the hurricane then caught authorities in the New York region by surprise, with ferocious rainfall triggering flash flooding.
The final blast of the storm killed at least 47 people in the US Northeast as it turned streets into raging rivers, inundated basements and shut down the New York subway.
And while one part of the country buckles under hurricane fallout, California and other parts of the western region are struggling to combat ever-fiercer wildfires.
"I think we're at one of those inflection points where we're going to act or we're going to be in real, real trouble. Our kids are going to be in real trouble."
Ida struck the US Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane, bringing major flooding and knocking out power to large parts of the heavily populated region, which is also a main hub for the oil industry. Just last week, Biden made a similar tour to Louisiana, where Ida had originally mand landfall.
However, the departing remnants of the hurricane then caught authorities in the New York region by surprise, with ferocious rainfall triggering flash flooding.
The final blast of the storm killed at least 47 people in the US Northeast as it turned streets into raging rivers, inundated basements and shut down the New York subway.
And while one part of the country buckles under hurricane fallout, California and other parts of the western region are struggling to combat ever-fiercer wildfires.
The clean up from storm Ida, including pumping out flooded houses, continues in the New York area, as President Joe Biden visits to inspect damage
KENA BETANCUR AFP/File
With his presidency straining from the aftermath of the Afghanistan pullout and surging Covid infections at home, Biden faces a difficult coming few weeks, including a struggle to get his infrastructure plans through the narrowly divided Congress.
The White House hopes that the dramatic impact from Hurricane Ida in two different parts of the country will galvanize action on the spending bills.
"It's so imperative that we act on addressing the climate crisis and investing... through his 'Build Back Better' agenda, which is working its way through Congress," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.
© 2021 AFP
With his presidency straining from the aftermath of the Afghanistan pullout and surging Covid infections at home, Biden faces a difficult coming few weeks, including a struggle to get his infrastructure plans through the narrowly divided Congress.
The White House hopes that the dramatic impact from Hurricane Ida in two different parts of the country will galvanize action on the spending bills.
"It's so imperative that we act on addressing the climate crisis and investing... through his 'Build Back Better' agenda, which is working its way through Congress," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.
© 2021 AFP
Biden says 'climate change is here' while touring Ida damage in NYC, N.J.
Flooded vehicles are seen in New York City last Thursday after severe flooding swamped the area from remnants of Hurricane Ida. Photo courtesy FDNY/Twitter
Sept. 7 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden warned of the impacts of climate change on Tuesday as he visited areas in the Northeast that were heavily damaged by flooding and rains that killed dozens of people last week.
Biden declared that "climate change is here" after meeting with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, state officials and members of Congress at the Somerset County Emergency Management Training Center and surveying damage from Hurricane Ida in Manville, N.J.
"We're living through it now. I think we're at one of those inflection points where we either act or we're going to be in real, real trouble, our kids are going to be in real trouble," he said.
On Tuesday Biden also toured a neighborhood in Queens in New York City that was damaged by flash flooding Wednesday, stopping by locations where several people were killed in flooded basement apartments. Most of those who died in New York City were living in units that quickly became swamped with water and they could not escape, officials said.
RELATEDMore flooding likely in Ida-ravaged Northeast this week
"Walking these neighborhoods, meeting the families and the first responders, seeing how folks are doing after this destruction and pain and another devastating storm is an eye opener," he said. "The people who stand on the other side of the fences who don't live there who are yelling that we are talking about and interfering with free enterprise by doing something about climate change, they don't live there ... They don't understand."
During the visit, Biden also pushed for Congress to pass his $1 trillion infrastructure plan and a $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation including measures to improve infrastructure and combat the effects of climate change.
"I'm hoping to be able to see the things we are going to be able to fix permanently with the bill that we have in for infrastructure," Biden said.
RELATED Ida's record rainfall in NYC, Northeast driven by climate change
Biden added that "climate change poses an existential threat" to U.S. lives and the economy but offered hope for the possibility of restoration.
"When I talk about building back better I mean you can't build it what it was before this last storm. You've got to build better so that if the storm occurred again, there would be no damage ... we've got to listen to the scientists and the economists and the national security exprts. They all tell us this is code red," said Biden.
Ahead of his visit, Biden approved federal emergency funds to the New York counties of Bronx, Kings, Queens, Richmond and Westchester and the New Jersey counties of Bergen, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic and Somerset.
RELATED Nearly 50 dead in Northeast after floods; high waters to last into weekend
The heavy rains and severe flooding were produced by the remnants of Hurricane Ida, which devastated parts of Louisiana a week ago. More than 40 deaths in the Northeast were linked to the floods.
"We will now have access to essential federal support to help New Jerseyans recover from Tropical Storm Ida," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted Monday.
Biden visited storm-ravaged areas in Louisiana on Friday. By early Tuesday, there were still more than 400,000 customers in the state without electricity, according to poweroutage.us.
Flooded vehicles are seen in New York City last Thursday after severe flooding swamped the area from remnants of Hurricane Ida. Photo courtesy FDNY/Twitter
Sept. 7 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden warned of the impacts of climate change on Tuesday as he visited areas in the Northeast that were heavily damaged by flooding and rains that killed dozens of people last week.
Biden declared that "climate change is here" after meeting with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, state officials and members of Congress at the Somerset County Emergency Management Training Center and surveying damage from Hurricane Ida in Manville, N.J.
"We're living through it now. I think we're at one of those inflection points where we either act or we're going to be in real, real trouble, our kids are going to be in real trouble," he said.
On Tuesday Biden also toured a neighborhood in Queens in New York City that was damaged by flash flooding Wednesday, stopping by locations where several people were killed in flooded basement apartments. Most of those who died in New York City were living in units that quickly became swamped with water and they could not escape, officials said.
RELATEDMore flooding likely in Ida-ravaged Northeast this week
"Walking these neighborhoods, meeting the families and the first responders, seeing how folks are doing after this destruction and pain and another devastating storm is an eye opener," he said. "The people who stand on the other side of the fences who don't live there who are yelling that we are talking about and interfering with free enterprise by doing something about climate change, they don't live there ... They don't understand."
During the visit, Biden also pushed for Congress to pass his $1 trillion infrastructure plan and a $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation including measures to improve infrastructure and combat the effects of climate change.
"I'm hoping to be able to see the things we are going to be able to fix permanently with the bill that we have in for infrastructure," Biden said.
RELATED Ida's record rainfall in NYC, Northeast driven by climate change
Biden added that "climate change poses an existential threat" to U.S. lives and the economy but offered hope for the possibility of restoration.
"When I talk about building back better I mean you can't build it what it was before this last storm. You've got to build better so that if the storm occurred again, there would be no damage ... we've got to listen to the scientists and the economists and the national security exprts. They all tell us this is code red," said Biden.
Ahead of his visit, Biden approved federal emergency funds to the New York counties of Bronx, Kings, Queens, Richmond and Westchester and the New Jersey counties of Bergen, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Passaic and Somerset.
RELATED Nearly 50 dead in Northeast after floods; high waters to last into weekend
The heavy rains and severe flooding were produced by the remnants of Hurricane Ida, which devastated parts of Louisiana a week ago. More than 40 deaths in the Northeast were linked to the floods.
"We will now have access to essential federal support to help New Jerseyans recover from Tropical Storm Ida," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted Monday.
Biden visited storm-ravaged areas in Louisiana on Friday. By early Tuesday, there were still more than 400,000 customers in the state without electricity, according to poweroutage.us.
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