One of Alaska's strengths is our pioneer role in environmentally sensitive development.

Alaska has great potential for new oil and gas development.

I firmly believe that we can have a healthy environment and a sustainable timber industry.

We are already experiencing the symptoms of climate change, especially with a hotter and drier climate in southern Australia - the rush to construct desalination plants is an expensive testament to that.

We have been far too aggressive about extracting ocean wildlife, not appreciating that there are limits and even points of no return.

This is the game of those who deny climate change or who deny the need for sustainability. They say, 'They are going to take everything away from us. They are going to take our cars away from us. They are going to take our steaks from us. They are going to take all the things that make life nice away from us. So let's not go there.'

This Nation has realized significant environmental improvements over the last three decades.