Obama: Climate change will be an 'important test for humanity and our political system'

As the culmination of the White House's South by South Lawn, a festival celebrating arts and innovation in the style of South by Southwest, President Obama devoted an entire hour to a discussion about climate change.

Sharing the stage with climate scientist Dr. Katharine Hayhoe and actor Leonardo DiCaprio (who moderated the discussion), the President discussed the need for technological breakthroughs related to climate, ways to facilitate action around environmental preservation, and the chances of implementing a carbon tax.

"As hard as it is for us to start acting now to solve a problem that has not fully manifested itself yet, this is going to be a really important test for humanity and our political system, and it's a test that requires everybody to do better," Obama said.

The President heralded the Paris Agreement - which aims to cut carbon emissions enough to keep the global temperature from rising more than 2 degrees - as an important first step, and said he anticipates it will officially go into effect within the next few weeks.

He added that this week, his administration will begin negotiations on an international aviation agreement that would prompt airlines around the world would begin to reduce the greenhouse gasses they emit.

The Paris Agreement, he said, is by no means enough, but at least commits everyone to do something. The President was less optimistic, however, about the possibility of a carbon tax, suggesting regulation on that level is a long ways off.

"It's frustrating because the science tell us we don't have time to compromise, but if we want to get anything done we have to take people's current views into account," he said.

Leonardo DiCaprio, however, was less measured in his statements. If you question climate change, he said, then "in my humble opinion, you should not be allowed to hold public office."