Clinton: climate change greater threat than terrorism

[AJH032]

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Former President Bill Clinton said on Saturday global warming is a greater threat to the future than terrorism and that the United States and other countries must "get off our butts" and do something about it.

Clinton, speaking to the graduating class at University of Texas' Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, said the United States must pursue policies that make "more partners and fewer enemies" and use "institutionalized cooperation" before there is catastrophic damage from global warming.

"Climate change is more remote than terror but a more profound threat to the future of the children and the grandchildren and the great-grandchildren I hope all of you have," Clinton said.

"It's the only thing we face today that has the power to remove the preconditions of civilized society," he said.

"I am not one of those who is pessimistic about the future of the world, assuming we get off our butts and do something about climate change in a timely fashion."

During Clinton's administration, the global Kyoto Protocol to curb the release of greenhouse gases was created but the Bush administration has rejected it on grounds it will hurt the U.S. economy.
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Personally, I think we should make this a central issue in the 2006 elections.

[liberalpragmatist]

1. 2008 maybe

I think we have enough issues at our disposal in 2006. Don't ignore the issue, but run more on Republican corruption and incompetence and promise to restore spending discipline and oversight to Congress.

But 2008 certainly. Especially if it's Gore in 2008 - well, then we're set.

[NNadir]

2. Is this a revelation?

This was true in 1992. In fact, Bill's VP was a leader on the issue, and still is.

[NYCGirl]

3. Hmmmm...where have I heard that before? Oh, yeah, it's said in this

movie trailer:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount_classics/aninconvenienttruth/trailer/