Obama's press secretary clamis that "he raised the challenge of climate change frequently in the campaign"; also says of climate change "you don't pursue action that helps deal with that problem just because of the problem itself"

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 1/22/2013 | The White House

[Carney] Climate change is not -- you don't pursue action that helps deal with that problem just because of the problem itself, but because there are huge opportunities there in alternative energy. Whether anyone in Washington or elsewhere likes it or not, clean energy technology is going to be a huge part of a 21st century global economy. We can make choices now that ensure that those industries are domestic, that we dominate those fields of endeavor and we create the jobs associated with those industries here in America -- or we can substitute our dependence on foreign oil for a dependence on imports of clean energy technology. So the President believes that would be shortsighted.

So he looks at this in a more holistic way, and he will move forward in implementing some of the actions that he took in the first term, and building on the progress that was made in the first term.

Q But why did it get such a prominent focus in this speech and such a relatively narrow focus, if at all, in the campaign?

MR. CARNEY: Well, I contest that assertion, because, in fact, he raised the challenge of climate change frequently in the campaign. He talked about it in press conferences, at recent press conference, as well as when asked about it, he addressed fully his commitment to dealing with this challenge and the impact it has on our economy and our people.

So it's an important issue. It's a priority. But it is not a singular priority, it is one of a host of priorities that he believes we can act on if we work together.

Q Did he run a single ad during the entire campaign that invoked climate change?

MR. CARNEY: I would refer you to the ad-makers. I decided early on in that process not to view every ad that was broadcast, because who would have the time? So I can't remember, but it was certainly an issue that he talked about frequently on the campaign trail, and it's one that he believes is a priority.