"Obama's State of Union Could Ramp Up Climate Fight With Republicans"

"GOP response from freshman senator Joni Ernst may also take aim at president’s agenda on emission cuts and Keystone XL pipeline"

"Despite the new Republican majority and the oil industry gunning for the president’s agenda on emissions cuts and the Keystone XL pipeline, Barack Obama will show he’s no lame duck on climate change, White House officials insisted ahead of his second-to-last State of the Union Address.

After using his executive authority over the last 18 months to propose new carbon pollution rules for power plants, an historic emissions deal with China and – just last week – the roll-out of measures aimed at methane, Obama will also likely tout new smog rules on Tuesday. He may even tip his hand on the contentious pipeline currently being debated in the Senate.

But a year after stating the increasingly obvious yet again – “Climate change is a fact,” Obama said in his 2014 address before Congress – it appears the president may have to use the high visibility of the speech to re-affirm science before he can double down on his action plan."

Suzanne Goldenberg reports for the Guardian January 18, 2015.

SEE ALSO:

"Obama to Call for Increased Methane Regulation in State of the Union Address" (Guardian)

"Florida Climate Change Researcher To Attend State of the Union With Michelle Obama" (Tampa Bay Times)