First, what we do this decade to address the climate crisis globally will reverberate for the rest of this century.

Today’s “new abnormal” – droughts, wildfires, floods, extreme heat, and other climate impacts – is just a mild preview of what we will face if we cannot dramatically cut global emissions and boost climate resilience in the critical years ahead. Without ambitious action, the world may be rapidly approaching tipping points in Earth system that will have untold impact across the globe.

Our actions will shape lives, livelihoods, security, and geopolitics, at home and abroad, for generations to come.

If we succeed in this mission – in fact when we succeed – we will preserve decades of hard-won gains in development and prosperity. We will save hundreds of billions of dollars in future disaster response, humanitarian funds, and rebuilding efforts. We will increase energy access and security. We will advance U.S. competitiveness in multi-trillion-dollar markets. And we will show our allies and adversaries that the United States can be counted on to lead the world in solving its biggest challenges.