    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [January 31, 1998]
    [Pages 150-151]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    January 31, 1998

        Good morning. Today I'd like to talk to you about one of the ways we
    are strengthening our Nation for the 21st century: our bold new efforts
    to deal with the challenge of global climate change through the force of
    the market and the power of American innovation.
        The world's leading climate scientists have concluded,
    unequivocally, that if we don't reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases
    into the atmosphere all across the Earth, then the temperature of the
    Earth will heat up, seas will rise, and increasingly severe floods and
    droughts

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    will occur, disrupting life in low coastal areas, disrupting
    agricultural production, and causing other difficulties for the
    generations of the 21st century. Fortunately, we can avert these dangers
    and do it while keeping our economy going strong.
        This past December, America led the world to reach a historic
    agreement committing nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through
    market forces, new technology, and energy efficiency. We can do some
    things right here, right now, to show that America is doing its part. In
    my State of the Union Address, I called for an unprecedented commitment
    of $6 billion for research and tax incentives to mobilize cutting-edge
    technology in the fight against global warming. I'd like to explain just
    what that means to you.
        First, we want to help bring down the price of high-efficiency cars
    for every American. Earlier this month, Ford, GM, and Chrysler unveiled
    prototypes of advanced-technology cars that get more than twice the
    mileage of today's models with no sacrifice in comfort, safety, or
    performance. When cars like these begin to enter the showrooms in the
    year 2000, we'll give everyone who buys one a $3,000 tax credit to apply
    to every size car. When these cars become even more efficient, we'll
    increase the tax credit to $4,000. We're committed to making it not only
    wiser but actually cheaper to buy highly efficient cars.
        Second, we'll help you turn your home into a model of energy
    efficiency. We'll offer tax credits that will give you a discount of 20
    percent off the cost of energy-saving water heaters and air
    conditioners. And we'll also offer a tax credit--worth up to $2,000--to
    help you put solar panels on your roof or to help you buy an energy-
    efficient home in the first place.
        Third, we will accelerate research on clean, renewable energy and
    energy-saving technologies. We'll help to develop energy-efficient
    lighting, refrigerators, and other appliances that will mean lower
    monthly bills for you and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. And we will
    work with industry to cut their energy use so that they can also protect
    the environment while enhancing the bottom line.
        Whenever we act to heal our environment, some always question
    whether it will hurt our economy. But today, our economy is the
    strongest in a generation and our environment, the cleanest in a
    generation. Whether the problem has been acid rain, deadly pesticides,
    polluted rivers, or the ozone hole, the ingenuity of the American people
    has always proved to carry the day--and we'll do it once again. Working
    together, we will overcome the challenge of global climate change and
    create new avenues of growth for our economy. And most important, we'll
    honor our deepest responsibility to pass on this home, without harm, to
    our children, our grandchildren, and generations yet to come.
        Thanks for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 4:40 p.m. on January 30 in the
    Roosevelt Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on January
    31.