President-elect Barack Obama this morning spoke via video at the Governors' Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles, reiterating promises he made on the campaign trail to invest in clean energy technologies and establish a federal cap-and-trade system. In attendance were Govs. Rod Blagojevich (D) of Illinois, Charlie Crist (R) of Florida, Jim Doyle (D) of Wisconsin, Kathleen Sebelius (D) of Kansas and host Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) of California. Officials from other countries -- including India and China -- were present as well, according to a press release from the transition team.
Referring to the upcoming round of U.N. climate talks in Poznan, Poland, Obama said that while he would not be taking part, he has asked unspecified members of Congress who are attending "as observers to report back to me on what they learn there." He reiterated his point that the science behind global warming is "beyond dispute and the facts are clear," and he told the assembled officials that "any governor who's willing to promote clean energy will have a partner in the White House.... And any nation that's willing to join the cause of combating climate change will have an ally in the United States of America."
Video available after the jump.
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