"President pushes for changes in how government manages public-land fossil fuels, but overall his address does not outline plans for bold action this year."

"President Obama pledged on Tuesday to push for changes in how the federal government manages fossil fuel development on public lands, an emerging battleground in the nation's climate policies.

In the final State of the Union message of his presidency, he spoke at some length of the climate crisis, and derided those who deny the problem's severity. But his words were mostly a recitation of past accomplishments and familiar ambitions. There was no laundry list of bold programs and budding proposals this time.

But his call to "accelerate the transition away from dirty energy" did signal an emphasis on revamping hotly disputed programs, notably those for the leasing of coal reserves at low prices."

John H. Cushman Jr. reports for InsideClimate News January 13, 2016. [2]