How has the weather been in your neck of the woods this past week, month and year? It's edging toward the end of September and in just the past two days alone, my region has seen several inches of snow and temperatures in the low 30s...and for the record, no, I don't live in Canada. Not once this summer did I feel compelled to wear shorts or a tank top and there was no need for me to even flick on the air conditioner. I'm not complaining because it made for a very comfortable summer, but I recognize just how abnormal this type of weather is. What might have seemed odd before is now officially troubling. I've heard people from all corners of the country comment on how wild the weather has been where they live this past year and there have been endless accounts of victory gardens being not quite triumphant due to excessive moisture and surprisingly low dips in the mercury. If this is not evidence of noticable climate change, then I don't know what is.

Just yesterday, 100 world leaders gathered together to participate in a United Nations climate summit and while they were grappling with the issue of what to do about Mother Nature's illness, all eyes were on two men for distinctly different reasons. Our newly elected president, Barack Obama spent a fair amount of time defending the U.S. government's position, explaining that while his administration is focused on making changes to positively effect our natural environment, it is understandably a challenging road that is made more difficult by our ailing economy. I realize that this isn't a political forum, but like so many other people in this country, I was absolutely elated to have a new president take the reins. Despite the inspiring promises and long list of responsibilities that he has knowingly taken on, the fact remains that Obama inherited a job, economy and globe that is rife with deeply seated problems. Many of us want to believe that he will wave his magic wand over our little world and make it all better, but that's not how it works. He isn't Superman or Mother Nature's second cousin or even God's long lost brother -- he's just a man who has taken on one of the most challenging jobs ever to exist, and he needs time and resources to make a dent in what has taken decades of carefree irresponsibility to create. Having said that, we can't afford excuses anymore.

During the UN's Climate Change summit, he explained that while it may not seem as though the U.S. is making much headway, significant changes are occurring -- for example, within three years, wind and renewable energy efforts will be doubled, billions are currently being invested into carbon capture technology and offshore wind projects are being pursued. Obama acknowledged that time is ticking and said, "We understand the gravity of the climate threat. We are determined to act. And we will meet our responsibility to future generations." Yes, his statement is one of blanket generalities and critics pointed out that our president failed to nail down timetables and specific goals as so many other nations have already done -- the only concrete statement he has made in the past is that America is hoping by the year 2020 to return to 1990 levels of greenhouse emissions. Despite this, the U.S has not yet made any solid commitment regarding any specific mandatory greenhouse gas curbs even though our county is responsible for combined global emissions of 20% due to the burning of oil, coal and natural gas. A climate bill was passed this summer by the U.S. House of Representatives but it has floundered ever since health care became the predominant focus of their time and energy. Hmmm, the planet's future or healthcare -- I can see which way the scales are tipping -- why can't they?

On the other hand, China's president Hu Jintao received accolades for his determination to take aggressive climate change measures such as tapping renewable energy sources to produce at least 15% of China's power needs and planting enough trees to conceivably cover the entire surface area of Norway. Admitting that it is just as incumbent upon developing nations as it is upon affluent ones to take responsibility for their role in climate change, Jintao stressed that mandatory greenhouse cuts are crucial. "Out of a sense of responsibility to its own people and people across the world," he stated, "China fully appreciates the importance and urgency of addressing climate change." Understandably, China questions why the U.S. is still holding out on matching the emissions reduction pledges of other affluent nations, and honestly, I'm wondering the same thing because we're heading toward the point of no return each additional day that we drag our heels. On the mind-numbingly long list of priorities that the Obama administration faces, I believe that addressing climate change with highly targeted goals that we actually fulfill today, tomorrow and the rest of our days is paramount, above and beyond even the financial security of our nation. If our planet dies, who cares if our economy has rebounded? Money means nothing when you're out of a house, home and planet.