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The Presidential Climate Action Project (PCAP), which we wrote about twice last week -- here and here -- has also posted a fascinating compilation of quotations called US Presidents on Climate Change, Energy and Security. From the introduction:

Every President for the past 30 years has gone on record in support of reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil.

U.S. Presidents have been advised since at least 1965 that the greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted as a result of burning fossil fuels will cause significant global warming.

In assertive, often eloquent language, past Presidents called upon the nation to unify around the goals of energy independence and climate protection. Yet most of their objectives have not been achieved and their visions of greater energy security and a stable climate have not been realized.

Did any of them have any intention of following words with action? Why did they fail? Did the American people care enough to hold them accountable? A lot of haunting questions about the hollowness of political promises and the ability of the public to maintain attention come flying off the page. Fair warning for this next presidential election cycle. Here's a very small sampling from the PCAP compilation.

Lyndon Johnson, 1965

This generation has altered the composition of the atmosphere on a global scale through radioactive materials and a steady increase in carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels.