At a time when every right-wing denier seems to be sniping at climate change in UK,  Barack Obama is showing leadership on climate change (continue)

By JOSH LEDERMAN, Associated Press  WASHINGTON (AP) — ‘President Barack Obama launched a show of support Friday for new emissions rules for power plants, putting the weight of the White House behind the government’s controversial strategy for combating climate change.

Three days before his administration is set to unveil the first carbon dioxide limits on existing plants, Obama paid a surprise visit to a children’s hospital and met with young asthma patients, hoping to call attention to the health effects of air pollution. He also talked up the need to curb carbon pollution during a hurricane preparedness briefing at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters.  “The changes we’re seeing in our climate means that, unfortunately, storms like Sandy could end up being more common and more devastating,” Obama said, invoking the deadly 2012 superstorm that’s become a rallying cry for climate activists.

The pair of appearances kicked off a public campaign by the president to rally Americans behind groundbreaking power plant rules that have already drawn scorn from the energy industry, business groups and even some Democrats from oil-dependent states. Obama’s visit with young asthmatics at the Children’s National Medical Center was closed to reporters, but the White House said while at the hospital, Obama was also taping his weekly radio and Internet address, which spotlights the carbon rules and will be released Saturday.

Full details about the proposal won’t come until Monday, when Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy will formally announce the rules during a speech at her agency’s headquarters. Obama will also discuss the rules with public health leaders on a conference call hosted by the American Lung Association and other groups. Click here to read more.