Obama: Climate change biggest threat to United States national parks

With the majestic Yosemite Falls as his backdrop, President Obama was overwhelmed by the beauty of Yosemite. Obama said turning to the towering rock formations in Yosemite Valley where he is spending the weekend with his family.

The video experience, which will include a conversation with Yosemite Park Superintendent Don Neubacher, will be released in August to coincide with the 100th Anniversary of the National Parks Service.

Obama touted the National Park System, saying it’s “a true expression of our democracy”, and is something “we have in common, something we share”. “Yosemite’s famous glacier, once a mile wide, is nearly gone”. That is the second-most by any administration.

As the president and first lady were distributing national parks cards, a boy turned to the president and said, “Happy Father’s Day for tomorrow”. The first time we drove over a hill and suddenly there was a field full of deer. That changes you. You’re not the same after that.

Jewell said there are three priorities for the Obama administration: make public lands relevant to all Americans, think big on conservation, and continue to invest in public lands because they return important economic benefits to the communities that surround them.

“This park belongs to all of us, this planet belongs to all of us”.

People wait near Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park.

“This shouldn’t lead to careless suggestions about scrapping an global treaty we spent years putting together”, Obama said.

“It’s a park that captures the wonder of the world. And let’s never forget how much good we can achieve simply by loving one another”.

Before the speech, the president and first lady gathered with schoolchildren from Livingston and San Francisco.

The more immediate challenge for the parks is a growing budget shortfall.

You could tell he had an emotional connection to Yosemite, even though this was his first time here. Not all kids get to see that kind of thing, and that needs to change, he said. Obama handed out free passes to national parks to kids sitting cross-legged on a trail, comically growling at them when they shouted “Go away bears!” as a park ranger had taught them.

The first family headed out a week after the Obamas’ elder daughter, Malia, 17, graduated from high school. Both appreciated the president’s visit, but both were disappointed he didn’t talk about the bark beetle infestation that has deviated forests in the park and the surrounding area.

“Thank you!” the president said. He was very genuine. “There’s something sacred about this place”.

Yet, we aren’t entitled to them. But the president also hit out at the climate change position of presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, who has said he is in favour of clean air but has vowed to pull the USA out of the Paris climate accord and has disparaged mainstream climate science as a “hoax invented by the Chinese”.

The presidents motorcade left for the Majestic Yosemite Hotel where he is staying through Sunday, he left behind some happy park goers.