Obama to UN: Time for difficult work on climate change is at hand, global cooperation a must

Obama pleads for harder work on climate change

UNITED NATIONS — President Barack Obama has implored world leaders to confront climate change, saying there can be no peace without cooperative work to preserve the planet.

Appearing before global leaders gathered at the United Nations, Obama said Wednesday that “the danger posed by climate change cannot be denied — and our responsibility to meet it must not be deferred.”

The president said “this is why the days when America dragged its feet on this issue are over.” He said he understood the tempation of nations to put economic recovery from recession ahead of climate change work, but said that must not be allowed to happen.