WH cranks up heat ahead of UN summit

The Obama administration is preparing a “full-court press” ahead of next week’s U.N. climate summit where the president will use his speech to “call on world leaders to keep their ambitions high.”

On a call with reporters on Thursday, senior adviser John Podesta said the administration is taking the U.N. summit in New York on Tuesday “seriously” in order to “show that the U.S. is committed to lead the fight against climate change.”

{mosads}Roughly 125 heads of state from across the globe are expected to attend the daylong summit, which is meant to build momentum for climate negotiations in Paris next year where attendees will work to sign an international treaty on climate change.

While the meeting next week isn’t meant for negotiating, it offers Obama an opportunity to “showcase” actions the U.S. has taken.

“We don’t have time to dabble with climate denial,” Podesta quipped while noting the U.S. is currently dealing with raging wildfires, ongoing drought and rising sea levels.

The administration’s carbon pollution rules on existing power plants and latest actions to phase out a popular coolant found in air conditioners and refrigerators will be on the mouths of every Cabinet member.

The administration will also tout actions announced Thursday to boost energy efficiency and solar power in homes and businesses, which would reduce carbon emissions 300 million metric tons by 2030.

Obama won’t stop there, Podesta said. Early next week the president will announce more executive actions on aid to vulnerable populations to help build up resilience to the impacts of climate change.

“We’re running a full-court press,” he said, to sound the alarm across the country about the risks of climate change, and tout the administration’s progress under the president’s agenda.

“This week and next, members of the Cabinet are going out around the country, amplifying the president’s message that the time for ambitious climate action is now,” he said.

Starting on Friday, the Office of Management and Budget director, Shaun Donovan, will speak at the liberal think tank Center for American Progress on the implications of global warming on the federal budget.

On Monday, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew will visit the Brookings Institute to discuss how the U.S. can cut carbon pollution and grow the economy at the same time.

“It will be the first speech of its kind by a sitting Treasury secretary,” Podesta said.

Later in the week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will be in New York touting new commitments, and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell will be in California spreading the message as well.

Along with Obama, Environmental Protection Agency chief Gina McCarthy will attend the climate summit in New York and meet with CEOs of major corporations to reach deals on more climate commitments.

Finally, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx will be in the North East to discuss “climate-smart transit.”