A couple of factors are coming together to breathe new life into hopes for environmental action in the U.S. The combination of political will and renewed enviromental activism are lending support to the possibility that we may see unprecedented climate action in the U.S. over the next four years.

At the start of his second term, President Obama’s bold inaugural address appealed directly to the American people:

“We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms. The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it.”

Shortly thereafter, the President reasserted his commitment to engage climate change in his 2013 State of the Union address:

“But for the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change…we can choose to believe in the overwhelming judgment of science – and act before it’s too late…I urge this Congress to pursue a bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change,… But if Congress won’t act soon to protect future generations, I will. I will direct my Cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy.”

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