Obama's climate voice falls on deaf ears, critics say

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (UPI) —

President Obama’s supporters hailed his U.N. climate support as visionary, though critics say it’s a vision few others may be willing to follow.

Obama spoke Tuesday at the U.N. climate summit on the need for a global effort to take on the threat from climate change.

"We can only succeed in combating climate change if we are joined in this effort by every nation â € “- developed and developing alike," he said. "Nobody gets a pass."

Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune said Obama has show the leadership necessary to coordinate an international effort.

"We have the momentum and will use it to ensure that our leaders’ words today are matched by effective action," he said in a statement.

The U.N. summit has been touted as a prelude to the international climate roundtable in Paris next year. Most leaders agree on need to use the meetings to find a comprehensive solution. Developing nations, however, want to continue to develop freely while developed nations argue over who pays the bills.

H. Sterling Burnett, research fellow on energy policy at The Heartland Institute, said Obama’s message of a global fight fell on deaf ears.

"The leaders of China, India, Russia, and Germany are all skipping the U.N. climate gathering," he said."Since they are among the largest CO2 emitters, without their agreement, CO2 will continue to rise whatever America and the rest of the world does."