It's Deja Boilerplate All Over Again

Now is the time when we juxtapose, Small Dead Animals-style:

Barack Obama has only four years to save the world. That is the stark assessment of Nasa scientist and leading climate expert Jim Hansen who last week warned only urgent action by the new president could halt the devastating climate change that now threatens Earth. Crucially, that action will have to be taken within Obama’s first administration, he added.

— “President ‘has four years to save Earth’ — US must take the lead to avert eco-disaster,” The Guardian, January 17th, 2009.

The timing of President Barack Obama’s long-awaited speech on climate change offers perhaps the first public sign of a White House acknowledging a disquieting reality: Presidencies end.

That might seem a remote worry for a president still in the flush of his second term, less than eight months after winning reelection. But the climate task is monumental enough that it could easily take up the rest of Obama’s time in office.

Tuesday’s rollout might give Obama just enough time to carry out the biggest environmental effort of his presidency — if he starts now.

— “President Obama’s race against time on climate, Obama house organ the Politico, today.

If we don’t heed this week’s latest final countdown du jour, snowfalls will just be a thing of the past!