Harper and Obama Meet; Promise to Confront Climate Change

On his first trip abroad as President of the United States, President Obama visited our northern neighbor, Canada. Today he traveled to Ottawa for meetings with Governor General Michaelle Jean, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Official Opposition, as well as U.S. Embassy employees and their families.

In a joint press conference, Prime Minister Harper and President Obama both stressed the importance of strong and positive relations between Canada and the United States. In particular, Harper stressed the need for close cooperation on addressing the economic crisis, the desire for a new dialogue on clean energy, and the need for the two nations to continue working together on shared international priorities.

President Obama emphasized the shared commitment of the two nations to work together for peace, prosperity, and human rights.

Of particular concern to justice advocates preparing to attend the annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days conference in Washington, DC (March 13 - 16), the two leaders discussed climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gases. Noting the long and productive history of bilateral co-operation on continental environmental protection and energy trade and technology, the President and the Prime Minister agreed that environmental protection and the development of clean energy are inextricably linked and announced plans to work together to build a new energy economy as a key element of broader economic recovery and reinvestment efforts.

In response to a question on climate change, President Obama said, "This is not just a U.S. issue or a Canadian issue, it's a worldwide issue that we're going to have to confront. . . . Right now there are no silver bullets to solve this problem, which is why sharing research, sharing ideas, is so important."

United States and Canadian officials will meet in the coming weeks to launch The Clean Energy Dialogue.