In his victory speech last night, President-Elect Barack Obama called on America to defend a “planet in peril” as one of the three great challenges of our time (see our “Quote of the Week”).

Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of National Wildlife Federation, said today: “President-elect Obama and the incoming Congress offer new hope that Americans will come together to repower America with clean energy that revitalizes our economy and defends a planet in peril from the climate crisis. With all the talk about red states and blue states leading up to the election, 2008 is the year that the electoral map turned green with support across the nation for clean energy.

“This election was powered by a voting public that wants dramatic and meaningful change, especially for a new energy future. Over the past months, 340,000 of America’s youth signed the Powervote pledge and mobilized behind a push for a clean energy economy that creates green jobs and secures our climate.

“I am filled with hope for the days ahead, but also feel the urgency of the wasted years behind us as the clock ticks down for our planet and our economy. NASA scientist James Hansen warned Congress this summer that the next two years will be our ‘last chance’ to boldly change course before global warming overwhelms our ability to control it.

“The National Wildlife Federation looks forward to working with President-elect Obama and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to pass strong global warming legislation that invests boldly in clean energy, caps and cuts the pollution that causes global warming, and restores America’s natural resources.

"The action plan must be comprehensive and measure up to what scientists tell us is needed. After eight years of denial and delay, we can’t afford to wait any longer.”