[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/01/26/art.hrcbostate0126.gi.jpg caption="Secretary Clinton's new climate change envoy will add urgency to the president's energy agenda."]
WASHINGTON (CNN ) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will name a former Clinton White House official as her special envoy for climate change, senior State Department officials told CNN on Monday.
The appointment of Todd Stern - a partner with the firm of Wilmer, Cutler, Pickering, Hale and Dorr - will add urgency to President Barack Obama and Clinton's promise to make climate change a foreign policy priority.
Stern is also a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, focusing on climate change and environmental issues.
From 1999 to 2001, he served at the Treasury Department as a counselor to the secretary. From 1993 to 1998 he was an assistant to the president for special projects, serving as the senior White House negotiator to climate change negotiations in Kyoto, Japan, and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Global warming must be happening...what other explanation would one have for boehner getting such a ridiculous looking tan in Ohio during the winter. Is he the best Ohio has to offer?
Welcome to the Clinton government version 2.0
tha's why we didn't elect you Andy J.
Fortunately we elected somebody with no head in the sand
You right-wingers are a joke. This is a great move to get our environment healthy again. Obama is keeping his promises on such issues Unfortunately, Republicans care more about deregulating corporate polluters that will NEVER care about you.
For those ignoramuses who still refuse to believe the facts, FYI it is imperative that we try to catch up after all the lost time. If you are not an environmentalist then you are fundamentally evil, because the environment and climate are our God-given responsibility to provide stewardship over. Only selfish, mean-spirited and unintelligent people can find anything negative in an effort to care for the Earth and an effort to undo all the horrible damage that has been done.
I don't know if this is a good appointment or not. But, something needs to be done or it won't matter if you about your guns (NY upstaters), don't have a job, or whatever else your gripe may be.
It is not just environmentalists that care about climate change. How can you not care about the future for your children and grandchildren?
Evidently, some of you can't see the forest for the trees.
Real change would have John McCain as President...it was inevitable that an Obama administration would bring back a lot of the Clinton people...what did you expect?
Note for FRANKY:
Let's be honest....how many you had, before writing your nonsensical comment??
Couldn't she have found some bright academic who hasn't worked for the White House before? Why does she need a special envoy anyway? If this falls under her job umbrella, isn't this HER job? Is every position going to have a 'special envoy? This is crazy!
Won't this "special envoy" for climate change be traveling around the world, more than likely on a private governmente jet, and thus creating MORE pollution, not to mention wasting taxpayer funds on a bunk position?
Hey New administration, can you explain why we have had 12 years of consecutive Global COOLING and the ice shields in both the North and South poles are THICKENING, and the fact we have no PROOF that this theory is in fact the TRUTH.
Before we gut our entire Business community with CAP and TRADE on a THEORY, to the disadvantage to the rest of the world's economy, can we make sure the theory can be proven.
By the way are you also going to drain the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, since they emit 50 times more Carbon than we humans do?
Prepare your eloquent speech of empathy for the millions of people that will lose your job over a phoney unproven theory.
Well, who better to lead the nation's efforts on global warming than.......a lawyer?? Whatever. I guess all the country's leading researchers and scientific experts were all busy doing other things. And this lawyer who happens to be Clinton's friend miraculously was available. Imagine the luck!
When people know their jobs, and are well versed in whatever it is they are needed for, they should be hired. That's a bit different than hiring your daddy's pals or your high school pals, or letting the guy in charge of vetting VP candidates talk you into making HIM VP.
And gee, the Clinton Era everyone wants to snipe about was the last time we had a budget surplus, relative peace in the world, and JOBS! And the only thing he lied about was something they shouldn't have been asking anyway. So conservatives had better get used to a new boss...the times they are a changin'.
Can't this administration do what thier conscience tells them? We followed the last conscience into war.
Maybe we can let these people do thier jobs and we can reap the benefits. They have to declare global warming as an issue to start some of the initiatives needed to reduce our dependence on foriegn oil. Get a grip nay sayers.
Hillary's selection will surely be able to claim success a few years from now, regardless of what he actually accomplishes. After all, global temperatures declined during Bush's eight years in office ... and his administration didn't even have a special envoy for Climate Change!
It's truly ridiculous to build policy around a hypothesis as unproven as anthropogenic global warming.
It's funny that some of the comments reflect derision for the pick having a background in the Clinton white house. I guess I'm having a hard time thinking of where others who have political and policy experience might come from..........like, the Bush white house? (gimme a break)
It's also sad that so many turn a blind eye to a lot of data that is painting a pretty clear picture that a carbon-based energy society is unsustainable in terms of its environmental, national security and economic impacts. Too many have tuned in those who would have you turn off your brains and look around you.........fools leading fools.
Iwish the press would find out how many of our tax dollars will be funnelled to this "envoy". I'm curious how much this guy's firm has donated to Obama/Clinton regime.
I'm sick of this administration already!
Maybe Al "Hot Air" Gore is looking for a job?
Congatulations on doing nothing. Really , I truely mean it , thanks
Why is the SOS naming a "Climate" envoy? Seems like something the EPA Secretary should be doing. Is this Hillary over reaching?
If so, I'm sure the President will explain how he wants things done.
Steve(the real one) CHANGE is anyone who's not a Bushie, that is real change.
Instead of bashing those trying to make a difference in the world, why don't you go out and do something productive!
Can't have enough envoys!
Hard decisions are going to have to be made to in order to secure a future for our children. Finally, an administration that is taking these issues seriously and not looking out for the almighty dollar. Stay the course, President Obama.
It is about time that someone realizes that Global Warming is REAL. Let's just hope that we can reverse what the Bush Administration has done to further damage our planet.
It is great to have leaders that acknowledge the fact and pledge to do something for the future generations.
It is not always about YOU. It is about the FUTURE OF OUR PLANET.