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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) on Wednesday (30 December 2009) released stock assessment reports for the Pacific Walrus and polar bears in Alaska.  The reports note the growing impacts of climate change on both species.

Texas Congressman Joe Barton, along with most members of a Republican delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives, on Friday (18 December 2009) in Copenhagen dismissed mounting evidence that climate is rapidly changing, that the impacts already are evident, and that it is being driven by rapidly increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases emissions from human activities.  "We don’t have an icecap in Texas," said Barton, apparently suggesting that melting polar ice was not a concern in his state.

Keya Chatterjee, Acting Director, Climate Change Program, reacts  to President Obama's speech just after noon on Friday, 18 December 2009, at the international climate negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark.  “What we did not hear today was how – how is the United States going to stand behind these commitments?” She adds that “we really need to hear from the President that this is going to be a legislative priority for him.” 

In remarks just after noon (CET, 18 December 2009) at the summit on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark, President Obama said "it’s time for the nations and people of the world to come together behind a common purpose. We must choose action over inaction; the future over the past — with courage and faith, let us meet our responsibility to our people, and to the future of our planet."