Obama: To Close Income Inequality Gap, We Must ‘Combat Climate Change’

"Just as we benefit by combating inequality within other countries, I believe advanced economies still need to do more to close the gap between rich and poor nations around the globe. This is difficult politically. It is difficult to spend on foreign assistance, but I do not believe this is charity. For the small fraction of what we spent at war in Iraq, we could support institutions so that fragile states do not collapse in the first place and invest in emerging economies to become markets for our good. It is not just the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do. That is why we need to follow through on the effort to combat climate change. If we do not act boldly, the bill that could come due will be mass migrations, and cities submerge and nations displaced and food supply decimated and conflicts born of despair."