The issue of climate change is one that we ignore at our own peril. There may still be disputes about exactly how much we’re contributing to the warming of the earth’s atmosphere and how much is naturally occurring, but what we can be scientifically certain of is that our continued use of fossil fuels is pushing us to a point of no return. And unless we free ourselves from a dependence on these fossil fuels and chart a new course on energy in this country, we are condemning future generations to global catastrophe.

Barack Obama

A reduction in domestic emissions would slow the pace of global emissions increases, no matter what happens elsewhere.

US Supreme Court in Massachusetts v. EPA, April 2, 2007

Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy. And here we have a serious problem: America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world.

George W. Bush, 2006

I never will forget a couple of years ago I had a fascinating conversation with the President of China, and we were discussing what our future would be and whether we wished to contain China. And I said, “I don’t wish to contain China.” I said, “The biggest security threat China presents the United States is that you will insist on getting rich the same way we did.” And he looked at me, and I could tell he had never thought of that. And I said, “You have to choose a different future, and we have to help. We have to support you. And that does not in any way let us off the hook. But it just means that we have to do this together.”

Bill Clinton, 1997

On Earth Day I made a commitment to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by the year 2000. And I asked for a blueprint on how to achieve this goal. In concert with all other nations, we simply must halt global warming. It is a threat to our health, to our ecology, and to our economy. I know that the precise magnitude and patterns of climate change cannot be fully predicted. But global warming clearly is a growing, long-term threat with profound consequences. And make no mistake about it, it will take decades to reverse.

Bill Clinton, 1993

“Sleep” features that power down home office equipment and other electronic devices that are turned on but not in use can save households up to $70 annually.

Alliance to Save Energy, 2005

American households typically spend more than $200 annually on air conditioning. Households in some regions of the South can easily spend twice that much.

Alliance to Save Energy, 2005

The average household spends $1,400 each year on energy bills. By choosing Energy Star-qualified products, consumers can cut this by 30 percent, saving about $400 each year.

Alliance to Save Energy, 2005

It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope; and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.

Robert F Kennedy

The difference between a car that gets 20 MPG (miles per gallon) and one that gets 30 MPG amounts to $1,800 over 5 years, assuming gas costs $1.80 per gallon and one drives 12,000 miles a year.

Alliance to Save Energy, 2005