President Obama called the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico “heartbreaking” and said it makes the passage of climate change legislation all the more urgent this year.
“The spill in the Gulf, which is just heartbreaking, only underscores the necessity of seeking alternative fuel sources,” Obama said after declaring climate change a “threat to our way of life” and calling on Congress to pass climate change bill “this year.”
Obama expressed tempered hope that the attempt to plug the oil leak, an effort known as top kill, will work. The Coast Guard gave BP approval to go ahead with the operation as early as Wednesday.
“If it’s successful, and there are no guarantees, it should greatly reduce or eliminate the flow of oil now streaming into the Gulf from the sea floor,” he said. “If it’s not there are other approaches that may be viable.”
