WASHINGTON D.C. – Senator John Kerry made the following statement today, following the President’s speech on climate change at the United Nations, and the President’s failure to announce U.S. commitment to binding domestic emissions targets.

“Another Bush speech, another missed opportunity to lead on climate change. The world was looking to the United States for leadership and candor, and instead the President fed our allies the same old diet of rehashed rhetoric and warmed over avoidance,” said Kerry. “The President talked up the need for industrialized nations to lead on climate change, but trotted out the same old token voluntary caps that won’t get the job done.

“There are countless ways this administration could have used this opportunity to announce real action on climate change, but instead they simply restated empty goals in the face of an extraordinary challenge. We need binding domestic emissions targets and strong international commitments now, or we risk the harshest judgment of history on this defining issue.”