TheWhiteHouse

OfficeofthePressSecretary

ForImmediateRelease June14,2014

RemarksbythePresidentatUniversityofCaliforniaIrvine
CommencementCeremony

AngelStadium
Anaheim,California

12:10P.M.PDT

THEPRESIDENT:Thankyou.(Applause.)Hello,Anteaters!(Applause.)ThatissomethingI
neverthoughtIdsay.(Laughter.)Please,pleasetakeaseat.

ToPresidentNapolitanowhichisanicestepupfromSecretarytoFredRuiz,ViceChairof
theUniversityofCaliforniaRegentsChancellorDrakeRepresentativesLorettaSanchezand
AlanLowenthaltothetrusteesandfacultythankyouforthishonor.Andcongratulationstothe
Classof2014!(Applause.)

Now,letmebeginmysayingallofyouhadtheinsidetrackingettingmeherebecausemy
personalassistant,Ferial,isaproudAnteater.(Applause.)Untiltoday,Ididnotunderstandwhy
shegreetsmeeverymorningbyshoutingZot,Zot,Zot!(Laughter.)Itsbeenalittleweird.But
sheexplainedittomeonthewayherethismorning,becauseshesveryproudtoseeher
brother,Sina,graduatetodayaswell.(Applause.)So,graduates,obviouslywereproudofyou,
butletsgiveitupforyourproudfamilyandfriendsandprofessors,becausethisistheirday,too.
(Applause.)

Andeventhoughhesontheroadthisweekend,IalsowanttothankAngelscenterfielderMike
Troutforlettingmecoverhisturfforawhile.(Applause.)Heactuallysignedabatforme,which
ispartofmyretirementplan.(Laughter.)Iwillbekeepingthat.Andthisisaverycoolplaceto
holdacommencement.IknowthatUCIrvinesbaseballteamopensCollegeWorldSeriesplay
inOmaharightaboutnow(applause)soletsgetthisspeechunderway.Ifthehotdogguy
comesby,getmeone.(Laughter.)

Now,inadditionaltoFerial,graduates,Imhereforasimplereason:Youasked.Forthosewho
dontknow,theUCIrvinecommunitysent10,000postcardstotheWhiteHouseaskingmeto
comespeaktoday.(Applause.)Sometriedtoguiltmeintocoming.Igotonethatsaid,Iwent
toyourfirstinauguration,canyoupleasecometomygraduation?(Applause.)Sometried
bribery:IllsupporttheChicagoBulls.Anothersaidtodaywouldbeyourbirthdaysohappy
birthday,whoeveryouare.

Mypersonalfavoritesomebodywroteandsaid,Wearesuperunderrated!(Laughter.)Im
sureshewastalkingaboutthisschool.Butkeepinmind,yourenotonlythenumberone
universityinAmericayoungerthan50yearsold,youalsoholdtheGuinnessWorldRecordfor
biggestwaterpistolfight.(Applause.)Youreprettyexcitedaboutthat.(Laughter.)

Wearesuperunderrated.Thisyoungladycouldhavejustaswellbeentalking,though,about
thisgeneration.Ithinkthisgenerationofyoungpeopleissuperunderrated.

Inyouryounglives,youveseendizzyingchange,fromterrorattackstoeconomicturmoilfrom
TwittertoTumblr.Someofyourfamilieshaveknowntoughtimesduringthecourseoftheworst
economiccrisissincetheGreatDepression.Youregraduatingintoastillhealingjobmarket,
andsomeofyouarecarryingstudentloandebtthatyoureconcernedabout.Andyet,your
generationthemosteducated,themostdiverse,themosttolerant,themostpolitically
independentandthemostdigitallyfluentinourhistoryisalsoonrecordasbeingthemost
optimisticaboutourfuture.

AndImheretotellyouthatyouarerighttobeoptimistic.(Applause.)Youarerighttobe
optimistic.Considerthis:Sincethetimemostofyougraduatedfromhighschool,fewer
Americansareatwar.Morehavehealthinsurance.Morearegraduatingfromcollege.Our
businesseshaveaddedmorethan9millionnewjobs.Thenumberofstateswhereyourefree
tomarrywhoyoulovehasmorethandoubled.(Applause.)Andthatsjustsomeoftheprogress
thatyouveseenwhileyouvebeenstudyinghereatUCIrvine.

Butwedofacerealchallenges:Rebuildingthemiddleclassandreversinginequalitysrise.
Reiningincollegecosts.Protectingvotingrights.Welcomingtheimmigrantsandyoung
dreamerswhokeepthiscountryvibrant.Stemmingthetideofviolencethatgunsinflictonour
schools.Wevegotsomebigchallenges.Andifyourefedasteadydietofcynicismthatsays
nobodyistrustworthyandnothingworks,andtheresnowaywecanactuallyaddressthese
problems,thenthetemptationistoojustgoitalone,tolookafteryourselfandnotparticipatein
thelargerprojectofachievingourbestvisionofAmerica.

AndImheretotellyou,dontbelievethecynicism.Guardagainstit.Dontbuyintoit.Today,I
wanttouseonecasestudytoshowyouthatprogressispossibleandperseveranceiscritical.I
wanttoshowyouhowbadlyweneedyoubothyourindividualvoicesandyourcollectiveefforts
togiveyouthechanceyouseektochangetheworld,andmaybeevensaveit.

Imgoingtotalkaboutoneofthemostsignificantlongtermchallengesthatourcountryandour
planetfaces:thegrowingthreatofarapidlychangingclimate.

Now,thisisntapolicyspeech.Iunderstanditsacommencement,andIalreadydelivereda
longclimateaddresslastsummer.Irememberbecauseitwas95degreesandmystaffhadme
doitoutside,andIwaspouringwithsweatasavisualaid.(Laughter.)Andsincethisisavery
educatedgroup,youalreadyknowthescience.Burningfossilfuelsreleasecarbondioxide.
Carbondioxidetrapsheat.Levelsofcarbondioxideinouratmospherearehigherthantheyve
beenin800,000years.

Weknowthetrends.The18warmestyearsonrecordhaveallhappenedsinceyougraduates
wereborn.Weknowwhatweseewithourowneyes.OutWest,firefightersbravelonger,
harsherwildfireseasonsstateshavetobudgetforthat.Mountaintownsworryaboutwhat
smallersnowpacksmeanfortourism.Farmersandfamiliesatthebottomworryaboutwhatit
willmeanfortheirwater.IncitieslikeNorfolkandMiami,streetsnowfloodfrequentlyathightide.
ShrinkingicecapshaveNationalGeographicmakingthebiggestchangeinitsatlassincethe
SovietUnionbrokeapart.

Sothequestionisnotwhetherweneedtoact.Theoverwhelmingjudgmentofscience,
accumulatedandmeasuredandreviewedoverdecades,hasputthatquestiontorest.The
questioniswhetherwehavethewilltoactbeforeitstoolate.Forifwefailtoprotecttheworld
weleavenotjusttomychildren,buttoyourchildrenandyourchildrenschildren,wewillfailone
ofourprimaryreasonsforbeingonthisworldinthefirstplace.Andthatistoleavetheworlda
littlebitbetterforthenextgeneration.

Now,thegoodisyoualreadyknowallthis.UCIrvinesetupthefirstEarthSystemScience
DepartmentinAmerica.(Applause.)AUCIrvineprofessorstudentteamwontheNobelPrize
fordiscoveringthatCFCsdestroytheozonelayer.(Applause.)AUCIrvineglaciologistswork
ledtooneoflastmonthsreportshowingoneoftheworldsmajoricesheetsinirreversible
retreat.Studentsandprofessorsareinthefieldworkingtopredictchangingweatherpatterns,
fireseasons,andwatertablesworkingtounderstandhowshiftingseasonsaffectglobal
ecosystemstogetzeroemissionvehiclesontheroadfastertohelpcoastalcommunities
adapttorisingseas.AndwhenIchallengecollegestoreducetheirenergyuseto20percentby
2020,UCIrvinewentaheadanddiditlastyear.Done.(Applause.)SoUCIrvineisaheadofthe
curve.Allofyouareaheadofthecurve.

YourgenerationremindsmeofsomethingPresidentWilsononcesaid.Hesaid,Sometimes
peoplecallmeanidealist.Well,thatisthewayIknowIamanAmerican.Thatswhoweare.

Andifyouneedareasontobeoptimisticaboutourfuture,thenlookaroundthisstadium.
Becausetoday,inAmerica,thelargestsingleagegroupis22yearsago.Andyouaregoingto
dogreatthings.AndIwantyoutoknowthatIvegotyourbackbecauseoneofthereasonsI
ranforthisofficewasbecauseIbelievedourdangerousaddictiontoforeignoilleftoureconomy
atriskandourplanetinperil.SowhenItookoffice,wesetouttousemorecleanenergyand
lessdirtyenergy,andwastelessenergyoverall.

Andsincethen,wevedoubledthedistanceourcarswillgoonagallonofgasbythemiddleof
thenextdecade.Wevetripledtheelectricityweharnessfromthewind,generatingenoughlast
yeartopowereveryhomeinCalifornia.Wevemultipliedtheelectricitywegeneratefromthe
sun10timesover.Andthisstate,California,issofaraheadoftherestofthecountryinsolar,
thatearlierthisyearsolarpowermet18percentofyourtotalpowerdemandoneday.
(Applause.)

Thebottomlineis,Americaproducesmorerenewableenergythanever,morenaturalgasthan
anyone.Andforthefirsttimeinnearlytwodecades,weproducemoreoilhereathomethanwe
buyfromothercountries.Andtheseadvanceshavecreatedjobsandgrownoureconomy,and
helpedcutourcarbonpollutiontolevelsnotseeninabout20years.Since2006,nocountryon
EarthhasreduceditstotalcarbonpollutionbyasmuchastheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
(Applause.)

Sothatsallreasonforoptimism.Heresthechallenge:Wevegottodomore.Whatwere
doingisnotenough.Andthatswhy,acoupleweeksago,Americaproposednewstandardsto
limittheamountofharmfulcarbonpollutionthatpowerplantscandumpintotheair.Andwealso
havetorealize,ashundredsofscientistsdeclaredlastmonth,thatclimatechangeisnolongera
distantthreat,buthasmovedfirmlyintothepresent.Thatsaquote.Insomepartsofthe
country,weatherrelateddisasterslikedroughts,andfires,andstorms,andfloodsaregoingto
getharsherandtheyregoingtogetcostlier.Andthatswhy,today,Imannouncinganew$1
billioncompetitivefundtohelpcommunitiespreparefortheimpactsofclimatechangeandbuild
moreresilientinfrastructureacrossthecountry.(Applause.)

Soitsabigproblem.Butprogress,nomatterhowbigtheproblem,ispossible.Thats
importanttoremember.Becausenomatterwhatyoudoinlife,youregoingtorunupagainst
bigproblemsinyourownpersonallifeandinyourcommunitiesandinyourcountry.Theres
goingtobeastubbornstatusquo,andtherearegoingtobepeopledeterminedtostymieyour
effortstobringaboutchange.Therearegoingtobepeoplewhosayyoucantdosomething.
Therearegoingtobepeoplewhosayyoushouldntbother.Ivegotsomeexperienceinthis
myself.(Laughter.)

Now,partofwhatsuniqueaboutclimatechange,though,isthenatureofsomeoftheopposition
toaction.Itsprettyrarethatyoullencountersomebodywhosaystheproblemyouretryingto
solvesimplydoesntexist.WhenPresidentKennedysetusonacourseforthemoon,there
wereanumberofpeoplewhomadeaseriouscasethatitwouldntbeworthititwasgoingtobe
tooexpensive,itwasgoingtobetoohard,itwouldtaketoolong.Butnobodyignoredthe
science.Idontrememberanybodysayingthatthemoonwasntthereorthatitwasmadeof
cheese.(Laughter.)

AndtodaysCongress,though,isfulloffolkswhostubbornlyandautomaticallyrejectthe
scientificevidenceaboutclimatechange.Theywilltellyouitisahoax,orafad.Onememberof
Congressactuallysaystheworldiscooling.TherewasonememberofCongresswho
mentionedatheoryinvolvingdinosaurflatulencewhichIwontgetinto.(Laughter.)

Now,theirviewmaybewrongandafairlyseriousthreattoeverybodysfuturebutatleast
theyhavethebrasstosaywhattheyactuallythink.Therearesomewhoalsoduckthequestion.
Theysaywhentheyreaskedaboutclimatechange,theysay,Hey,look,Imnotascientist.
AndIlltranslatethatforyou.Whatthatreallymeansis,Iknowthatmanmadeclimatechange
reallyishappening,butifIadmitit,Illberunoutoftownbyaradicalfringethatthinksclimate
scienceisaliberalplot,soImnotgoingtoadmitit.(Applause.)

Now,Imnotascientisteither,butwevegotsomereallygoodonesatNASA.Idoknowthatthe
overwhelmingmajorityofscientistswhoworkonclimatechange,includingsomewhoonce
disputedthedata,haveputthatdebatetorest.Thewriter,ThomasFriedman,recentlyputitto
methisway.Heweretalking,andhesays,Yourkidissick,youconsult100doctors97of
themtellyoutodothis,threetell[you]todothat,andyouwanttogowiththethree?

Thefactis,thisshouldnotbeapartisanissue.Afterall,itwasRepublicanswhousedtolead
thewayonnewideastoprotectourenvironment.ItwasTeddyRooseveltwhofirstpushedfor
ourmagnificentnationalparks.ItwasRichardNixonwhosignedtheCleanAirActandopened
theEPA.GeorgeH.W.Bushawonderfulmanwhoat90justjumpedoutofaplaneina
parachute(laughter)saidthathumanactivitiesarechangingtheatmosphereinunexpected
andunprecedentedways.JohnMcCainandotherRepublicanspubliclysupportedfree
marketbasedcapandtradebillstoslowcarbonpollutionjustafewyearsagobeforetheTea
Partydecideditwasamassivethreattofreedomandliberty.

Thesedays,unfortunately,nothingishappening.Evenminorenergyefficiencybillsarekilledon
theSenatefloor.Andthereasonisbecausepeoplearethinkingaboutpoliticsinsteadofthinking
aboutwhatsgoodforthenextgeneration.Whatsthepointofpublicofficeifyourenotgoingto
useyourpowertohelpsolveproblems?(Applause.)

Andpartofthechallengeisthatthemediadoesntspendalotoftimecoveringclimatechange
andlettingaverageAmericansknowhowitcouldimpactourfuture.Now,thebroadcast
networksnightlynewscastsspendjustafewminutesamonthcoveringclimateissues.On
cable,thedebateisusuallybetweenpoliticalpundits,notscientists.Whenweintroducedthose
newantipollutionstandardsacoupleweeksago,theinstantreactionfromtheWashingtons
politicalpresswasntaboutwhatitwouldmeanforourplanetitwaswhatwoulditmeanforan
electionsixmonthsfromnow.Andthatkindofmissesthepoint.Ofcourse,theyrenot
scientists,either.

AndIwanttotellyouallthisnottodiscourageyou.ImtellingyouallthisbecauseIwanttolighta
fireunderyou.Asthegenerationgettingshortchangedbyinactiononthisissue,Iwantallofyou
tounderstandyoucannotacceptthatthisisthewayithastobe.

Theclimatechangedenierssuggesttheresstilladebateoverthescience.Thereisnot.The
talkingheadsoncablenewssuggestpublicopinionishopelesslydeadlocked.Itisnot.Sevenin
tenAmericanssayglobalwarmingisaseriousproblem.Sevenintensaythefederal
governmentshouldlimitpollutionfromourpowerplants.Andofalltheissuesinarecentpoll
askingAmericanswherewethinkwecanmakeadifference,protectingtheenvironmentcame
outontop.(Applause.)

Sowevegotpublicopinionpotentiallyonourside.Wecandothis.Wecanmakeadifference.
Youcanmakeadifference.Andthesooneryoudo,thebetternotjustforourclimate,butfor
oureconomy.Theresareasonthatmorethan700businesseslikeAppleandMicrosoft,and
GMandNike,Intel,StarbuckshavedeclaredthattacklingclimatechangeisoneofAmericas
greatesteconomicopportunitiesinthe21stcentury.Thecountrythatseizesthisopportunity
firstwillleadtheway.Alowcarbon,cleanenergyeconomycanbeanengineforgrowthand
jobsfordecadestocome,andIwantAmericatobuildthatengine.Becauseifwedo,otherswill
follow.IwantthosejobsIwantthoseopportunitiesIwantthosebusinessesrighthereinthe
UnitedStatesofAmerica.(Applause.)

Developingcountriesareusingmoreandmoreenergy,andtensofmillionsofpeopleare
enteringtheglobalmiddleclass,andtheywanttobuycarsandrefrigerators.Soifwedontdeal
withthisproblemsoon,weregoingtobeoverwhelmed.Thesenationshavesomeofthe
fastestrisinglevelsofcarbonpollution.Theyregoingtohavetotakeactiontomeetthis
challenge.Theyremorevulnerabletotheeffectsofclimatechangethanweare.Theyvegot
evenmoretolose.ButtheyrewaitingtoseewhatdoesAmericado.Thatswhattheworld
does.Itwaitstowatchusact.Andwhenwedo,theymove.AndImconvincedthatonthis
issue,whenAmericaproveswhatspossible,thentheyregoingtojoinus.

AndAmericacannotmeetthisthreatalone.Ofcourse,theworldcannotmeetitwithout
America.ThisisafightthatAmericamustlead.SoImgoingtokeepdoingmypartforaslong
asIholdthisofficeandaslongasImacitizenonceoutofoffice.Butweregoingtoneedyou,
thenextgeneration,tofinishthejob.

Weneedscientiststodesignnewfuels.Weneedfarmerstohelpgrowthem.Weneed
engineerstoinventnewtechnologies.Weneedentrepreneurstosellthosetechnologies.
(Applause.)Weneedworkerstooperateassemblylinesthathumwithhightech,zerocarbon
components.Weneedbuilderstohammerintoplacethefoundationsforacleanenergyage.
Weneeddiplomatsandbusinessmenandwomen,andPeaceCorpsvolunteerstohelp
developingnationsskippastthedirtyphaseofdevelopmentandtransitiontosustainable
sourcesofenergy.

Inotherwords,weneedyou.(Applause.)Weneedyou.Andifyoubelieve,likeIdo,that
somethinghastobedoneonthis,thenyouregoingtohavetospeakout.Youregoingtohave
tolearnmoreabouttheseissues.EvenifyourenotlikeJessicaandanexpert,youregoingto
havetoworkonthis.YouregoingtohavetopushthoseofusinpowertodowhatthisAmerican
momentdemands.Youvegottoeducateyourclassmates,andcolleagues,andfamily
membersandfellowcitizens,andtellthemwhatsatstake.Youvegottopushbackagainstthe
misinformation,andspeakoutforfacts,andorganizeothersaroundyourvisionforthefuture.

Youneedtoinvestinwhathelps,anddivestfromwhatharms.Andyouvegottoremind
everyonewhorepresentsyou,ateverylevelofgovernment,thatdoingsomethingaboutclimate
changeisaprerequisiteforyourvote.

ItsnoaccidentthatwhenPresidentKennedyneededtoconvincethenationthatsending
Americansintospacewasaworthygoal,hewenttoauniversity.Thatswherehestarted.
Becauseachallengeasbigasthat,ascostlyasthat,asdifficultasthat,requiresaspiritof
youth.Itrequiresaspiritofadventureawillingnesstotakerisks.Itrequiresoptimism.It
requireshope.Thatday,amantolduswedgotothemoonwithinadecade.Anddespiteallthe
naysayers,somehowweknewasanationthatwedbuildaspaceshipandwedmeetthatgoal.

ThatsbecausewereAmericansandthatswhatwedo.Evenwhenourpoliticalsystemis
consumedbysmallthings,weareapeoplecalledtodobigthings.Andprogressonclimate
changeisabigthing.Progresswontalwaysbeflashyitwillbemeasuredindisastersaverted,
andlivessaved,andaplanetpreservedanddaysjustlikethisone,20yearsfromnow,and50
yearsfromnow,and100yearsfromnow.Butcanyouimagineamoreworthygoalamore
worthylegacythanprotectingtheworldweleavetoourchildren?

SoIaskyourgenerationtohelpleaveusthatlegacy.Iaskyoutobelieveinyourselvesandin
oneanother,andaboveall,whenlifegetsyoudownorsomebodytellsyouyoucantdo
something,tobelieveinsomethingbetter.

Therearepeopleherewhoknowwhatitmeanstodream.WhenMohamadAbediwasaboy,
thesufferinghesawinrefugeecampsinLebanondidntdrivehimintodespairitinspiredhim
tobecomeadoctor.AndwhenhecametoAmerica,hediscoveredapassionforengineering.
Sohere,atUCIrvine,hebecameabiomedicalengineertostudythehumanbrain.(Applause.)
AndMohamadsaid,HadInevercometotheUnitedStates,Iwouldhaveneverhadtheabilityto
dotheworkthatImdoing.HesnowgoingtoCalTechtokeepdoingthatwork.

CinthiaFloresisthedaughterofasinglemomwhoworkedasaseamstressanda
housekeeper.(Applause.)Thefirstinherfamilytograduatefromhighschool.Thefirstinher
familytograduatefromcollege.Andincollege,shesays,IlearnedaboutmyselfthatIwas
goodatadvocatingforothers,andthatIwasargumentativesomaybeIshouldgotolaw
school.And,today,Cinthiaisnowthefirstinherfamilytograduatefromlawschool.Andshe
planstoadvocatefortherightsofworkerslikehermom.(Applause.)Shesays,Ihavethe
greatprivilegeandopportunitytoanswerthecallofmycommunity.Thebottomline,she
says,isbeingofservice.

On9/11,AaronAndersonwasasophomoreincollege.Severalmonthslater,hewasintraining
forArmySpecialForces.HefoughtinAfghanistan,andonFebruary28th,2006,hewasnearly
killedbyanIED.Heendureddozensofsurgeriestosavehislegs,monthsofrecoveryatWalter
Reed.Whenhecouldntphysicallyreturntoactiveduty,hedevotedhistimetohisbrothersin
arms,startingtwobusinesseswithfellowveterans,andafoundationtohelpfellowwounded
GreenBeretsoldiers.Andthenhewentbacktoschool.AndlastDecember,hegraduated
summacumlaudefromUCIrvine.AndAaronisheretoday,alongwithfoursoontobe
commissionedROTCcadets,and65othergraduatingveterans.AndIwouldaskthemtostand
andberecognizedfortheirservice.(Applause.)

Thepointis,youknowhowtodream.Andyouknowhowtoworkforyourdreams.And,yes,
sometimesyoumaybesuperunderrated.Butusuallyitstheunderrated,theunderdogs,the
dreamers,theidealists,thefighters,theargumentativethosearethefolkswhodothebiggest
things.

Andthisgenerationthis9/11generationofsoldiersthisnewgenerationofscientistsand
advocatesandentrepreneursandaltruistsyouretheantidotetocynicism.Itdoesntmean
yourenotgoingtogetdownsometimes.Youwill.Youllknowdisillusionment.Youllexperience
doubt.Peoplewilldisappointyoubytheiractions.Butthatcantdiscourageyou.

Cynicismhasneverwonawar,orcuredadisease,orstartedabusiness,orfedayoungmind,
orsentmenintospace.Cynicismisachoice.Hopeisabetterchoice.(Applause.)

Hopeiswhatgaveyoungsoldiersthecouragetostormabeachandliberatepeopletheynever
met.

Hopeiswhatgaveyoungstudentsthestrengthtositinandstandupandmarchforwomens
rights,andcivilrights,andvotingrights,andgayrights,andimmigrationrights.

Hopeisthebelief,againstallevidencetothecontrary,thattherearebetterdaysahead,andthat
togetherwecanbuildupamiddleclass,andreshapeourimmigrationsystem,andshieldour
childrenfromgunviolence,andshelterfuturegenerationsfromtheravagesofclimatechange.

Hopeisthefactthat,today,thesinglelargestagegroupinAmericais22yearsoldwhoareall
justitchingtoreshapethiscountryandreshapetheworld.AndIcannotwaittoseewhatyoudo
tomorrow.

Congratulations.(Applause.)Thankyou,Classof2014.Godblessyou.GodblesstheUnited
StatesofAmerica.(Applause.)

END
12:41P.M.PDT