There's really only been one topic of conversation in the office and all over the web this afternoon: Barack Obama's long-awaited inaugural speech. The 44th president's words have received a glowing response from most quarters, but of course it's the nuggets of information he gave away on what he'll be doing for the environment that were music to Hippyshopper's ears.
Follow the jump for a synopsis.
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The threat of climate change and how to tackle it played a big role in Obama's speech, suggesting that the new president is prepared to take green issues seriously. After stating that "each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet", Obama hinted that he plans to invest heavily in renewable energy, stating that "We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories". This is an exciting prospect, when we consider the vast global impact of America's transport system.
He also spoke of how his administration will "work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the spectre of a warming planet". Obama's commitment to furthering scientific progress is a given, so we can expect major investment in research and development in these areas.
All signs point towards a real gear-shift in America's position on climate change and technological progress. Let's hope the cynisim never kicks in!
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