Obama says threat from climate change serious, urgent, growing

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday that the threat from climate change is serious, urgent and growing.

Speaking at the UN climate change summit, which kicked off Tuesday at the UN headquarters, Obama said "that so many of us are here today is a recognition that the threat from climate change is serious, it is urgent, and it is growing."

"Our generation's response to this challenge will be judged by history, for if we fail to meet it - boldly, swiftly, and together- we risk consigning future generations to an irreversible catastrophe," he said.