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For Immediate Release
Salazar steps up to the plate with climate initiative
Statement from Defenders of Wildlife president Rodger Schlickeisen
WASHINGTON -- Interior Secretary Ken Salazar issued a Secretarial Order today on “Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change on America’s Water, Land, and Other Natural and Cultural Resources.”
The following is a statement from Defenders of Wildlife president Rodger Schlickeisen:
“Secretary Salazar has taken a bold step today to lead the federal government’s response to dealing with impacts of global warming. The country cannot afford any more delays in acting to protect our wildlife, water and all the other benefits nature provides.
“It will take all of the branches of government to tackle the multiple impacts we are seeing and will continue to see from global warming. Secretary Salazar’s order demonstrates the commitment of the Department of the Interior to respond to the significant impacts of climate change. We must also see the same commitment from Congress in the passage of comprehensive climate change legislation to limit global warming pollution and fund efforts to address its impacts on our wildlife and natural resources.
“Secretary Salazar’s order calls for the development and implementation of an integrated strategy for responding to the impacts of climate change involving the resources managed by the department. We look forward to working with the department on crafting such a strategy. In addition to this departmental strategy, there is a continuing need for a coordinated national strategy amongst the entire federal government and state, local, and tribal governments and other partners for addressing the impacts of climate change on natural resources. With its large responsibilities and land holdings, the Interior Department is poised to take a leadership role in the nation’s response to climate change and the development of such a national strategy.”
Learn more about Defenders' work to safeguard wildlife from the impacts of global warming
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Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit www.defenders.org
