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Transcript/ScriptUS – VP HARRIS – CLIMATE CHANGE
HEADLINE: Harris Says Global Climate Change Threatens Security
TEASER: Vice President planning Africa trip to focus on climate
PUBLISHED AT: 03/xx/2023
BYLINE: Scott Stearns
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Arvada, Colorado
VIDEOGRAPHER: Scott Stearns
PRODUCER: Scott Stearns
SCRIPT EDITORS: Mia Bush, pcd
VIDEO SOURCE: VOA
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV X RADIO _X_
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[Vice President Kamala Harris says the United States is working to mitigate the impacts of climate change because competition for diminishing resources can lead to instability. She spoke about drought and climate change in the Western U.S. state of Colorado. VOA Correspondent Scott Stearns has our story.]]
((NARRATOR))
The vice president came to Colorado at a time of deepening concern over water and the inability of regional states to agree to reduce demands on the Colorado River, where hydroelectric production downstream is threatened by prolonged drought.
((AP STORY NUMBER 4393494
10. Various of low water levels at Lake Mead
11. Various of backside of Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell))
((NARRATOR))
Vice President Harris told a community event in a Denver suburb that past federal policy did not sufficiently address conditions in Western states.
((Kamala Harris, Vice President))
“Federal policy around extreme weather and extreme climate had taken into account historically tornadoes and hurricanes. But, hey, let’s also think about how we are dealing with drought and wildfires and bring to bear a perspective from Western states around how it impacts this region of the country a bit differently from other regions of the country.”
((NARRATOR))
She credited the impact of local action by state governors, including Colorado’s Jared Polis.
((Jared Polis, Colorado Governor))
“We like to think that we are doing a lot right here in Colorado. We are pursuing bold climate action to protect the state we love and save people money. We know that right here in Colorado extreme drought threatens our agriculture and our recreation industry. The situation around water in the West is becoming more and more difficult.”
((NARRATOR))
Vice President Harris also said she is traveling to Africa later this month to focus on climate resilience and adaptation.
((Kamala Harris, Vice President))
“If a community or a particular geographic location is experiencing extreme drought over years and years, they cannot grow food. They will then leave that place to go somewhere where they can grow food. And they may go to a place that speaks a different language and prays to a different god, which invariably will lead to some degree of conflict.”
((NARRATOR))
Fighting climate change has been a top priority for the administration, with legislation last year that expands wind and solar power with the goal of reducing U.S. dependence on oil, coal and natural gas.
((Scott Stearns, VOA News, Arvada, Colorado))
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