I applaud President Barack Obama for spotlighting the need to confront climate change in his State of the Union Address.

“We can choose to believe that Superstorm Sandy, and the most severe drought in decades, and the worst wildfires some states have ever seen, were all just a freak coincidence. Or we can choose to believe in the overwhelming judgment of science — and act before it’s too late,” said the president. “For the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change.”

Maine is seeing the effects of climate change firsthand, especially along the coast. A recent National Wildlife Federal report found that higher carbon dioxide concentrations are making ocean waters more acidic, which can damage shellfish.

Coal and oil-fired power plants are the single largest emitters of carbon dioxide in the country. I encourage the president to work with Congress to pass limits on emissions of carbon dioxide from both newly constructed and existing coal and oil power plants.

The time to act on climate change is now. I applaud the president for drawing a line in the sand with Congress, saying that if it does not step up and act, he will. The president has the authority to act and the American people are ready to work with him to face this great challenge of the time.

Stephan Drane, Auburn