Bill Clinton: “Good morning. This year we've seen a disturbing string of weather- related emergencies all around our country, from…”

“Good morning. This year we've seen a disturbing string of weather- related emergencies all around our country, from flash floods in Tennessee to wildfires in Florida to ice storms last winter in New England. This summer record heat and drought are taking a terrible human toll, destroying crops, causing power outages, worst of all, taking lives. Just since June, more than 130 people have died because of the heat. Certainly, the latest El Nino is partly to blame for the severe weather conditions that have besieged so many communities. But growing evidence suggests that the extreme and erratic weather we're seeing in America and around the world is being intensified by global warming. Consider this: 1997 was the warmest year on record, and 1998 is on track to break that record. Five of the hottest years in history--the 5 hottest years--have all occurred in the 1990's. Scientists predict that July may be the hottest month since mankind began recording temperatures. The world's leading climate experts predict even more extreme weather unless we reverse this dangerous warming trend. We're doing everything we can in the short term to help communities cope with this devastating heat wave. This week I released $100 million in emergency funds to the 11 hottest States. On Monday Agriculture Secretary Glickman and FEMA Director James Lee Witt will travel to Texas and Oklahoma to see what more we can do to help there.…”