This is President Barack Obama's paper published in the journal Science in January 2017.

Abstract: The release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) due to human activity is increasing global average surface air temperatures, disrupting weather patterns, and acidifying the ocean (1). Left unchecked, the continued growth of GHG emissions could cause global average temperatures to increase by another 4°C or more by 2100 and by 1.5 to 2 times as much in many midcontinent and far northern locations (1). Although our understanding of the impacts of climate change is increasingly and disturbingly clear, there is still debate about the proper course for U.S. policy—a debate that is very much on display during the current presidential transition. But putting near-term politics aside, the mounting economic and scientific evidence leave me confident that trends toward a clean-energy economy that have emerged during my presidency will continue and that the economic opportunity for our country to harness that trend will only grow. This Policy Forum will focus on the four reasons I believe the trend toward clean energy is irreversible.

Insights offers World Resource Institute experts’ timely analysis and commentary on crucial issues at the nexus of environment and human development.

Affordable, clean, and secure energy and energy services are essential for improving U.S. economic productivity, enhancing our quality of life, protecting our environment, and ensuring our Nation's security. To help the federal government meet these energy goals, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum on January 9 directing the administration to conduct a Quadrennial Energy Review (QER). As described in the Presidenta?Ts Climate Action Plan, this first-ever review will focus on energy infrastructure and will identify the threats, risks, and opportunities for U.S. energy and climate security, enabling the federal government to translate policy goals into a set of integrated actions. The Presidential Memorandum created an interagency task force co-chaired by the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Special Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change. The Department of Energy will help coordinate interagency activities and provide policy analysis and modeling, and stakeholder engagement.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science is the lead federal agency supporting fundamental scientific research for energy and the Nation’s largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences.

The Office of Science portfolio has two principal thrusts: direct support of scientific research and direct support of the development, construction, and operation of unique, open-access scientific user facilities.

Energy powers our modern world, fueling innovation and improving living standards across the globe. But delivering access to reliable and affordable energy, while limiting its social and environmental impacts, is one of society’s greatest and most complex challenges. The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) is contributing solutions using a unique approach that translates cutting-edge research into real-world impacts through strategic outreach, and training for the next generation of global energy leaders.

The GENI Initiative focuses on linking renewable energy resources around the world using international electricity transmission. Research shows that the premier global strategy is the interconnection of electric power networks between regions and continents into a global energy grid, with an emphasis on tapping abundant renewable energy resources

The mission of R-Squared is to discuss critical issues for modern society: Energy and the Environment. R-Squared is written by Robert Rapier, whose career has been devoted to energy issues. Robert has worked on cellulosic ethanol, butanol production, oil refining, natural gas production, and gas-to-liquids (GTL). He grew up in Oklahoma, and received his Master's in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University.