Denying climate change is like saying Moon is made of cheese, president says

Mr Obama issued a call for action on global warming as he addressed graduates of the University of California, Irvine.

He told the tens of thousands gathered at Angel Stadium that Congress “is full of folks who stubbornly and automatically reject the scientific evidence” and say climate change is a hoax or a fad, while others avoid the question.

“They say, ‘Hey, look, I’m not a scientist,’” Mr Obama said.

“I’ll translate that for you: what that really means is: ‘I know that man-made climate change really is happening but if I admit it, I’ll be run out of town by a radical fringe that thinks climate science is a liberal plot.’”

Mr Obama’s address to about 8,000 graduates at the Orange County campus comes two weeks after he announced a contentious plan to dramatically cut pollution from power plants.

The US president also used the address to announce a one billion dollar competitive fund for communities who have experienced natural disasters.

He described a political system consumed by “small things” but said Americans should be determined to do “big things” like addressing climate change, despite the type of opposition he faces from Congress.

He added: “There’s going to be a stubborn status quo and people determined to stymie your efforts to bring about change.”