(Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama said dealing with climatechange can’t be left to another generation and called outRepublicans who’ve fought to derail his environmental agenda.

Obama toured the Florida Everglades on Wednesday tomark Earth Day and deliver a speech highlighting the economic costsof climate change. Using the backdrop of the Everglades’ fragileecosystem, Obama sought to make the case for his environmentalagenda while indirectly criticizing Republicans who’ve questionedhumanity’s impact on global temperatures. They include Florida’sgovernor and two potential candidates for the party’s 2016presidential nomination from the state.

“Climate change can no longer be denied,” Obama said. “It can’tbe edited out, it can’t be omitted from the conversation and actioncan no longer be delayed.”

The state’s most prominent Republicans -- former Governor JebBush, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and current Governor Rick Scott --have all questioned the scientific consensus on climate change andits cause.

Obama, who recently called global warming a challenge that’s“bigger and longer-lasting than my presidency,” is seeking toelevate the issue as the 2016 presidential campaign is gettingunder way.

Health Impact

In recent weeks, he has cited the health impact of climatechange, toured solar-panel installations in Washington and Utah andpledged to reduce U.S. carbon emissions at least 26% by 2025.

“This is not some impossible problem,” he said. “We can solveit.”

Florida, with its 1,350 miles of coastline, is particularlyvulnerable to rising seas and extreme weather events, according tothe National Climate Assessment released last year by the Obamaadministration. As the largest presidential swingstate, Florida has become ground zero in the climatedebate.

Florida is also one of several Republican-led states thathave objected to rules proposed by the Environmental ProtectionAgency. Unable to pass climate legislation in Congress, Obama hasrelied on the EPA to force cuts to carbon emissions throughregulation.

The Everglades, a swath of wetlands that covers more than 1.5million acres in southern Florida, has become a symbol for theeconomic and environmental threats posed by climate change, theWhite House has said.

Drinking Water

Saltwater intrusion has threatened the supply of drinking waterfor residents in South Florida, said Leonard Berry, formerdirector of the Florida Center for Environmental Studiesat Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

“If you project a two- or three-foot rise in sea level over thenext 20 to 60 years, you’re going to have a very compromisedEverglades,” he said. “We are already experiencingdifficulties.”

Obama toured Everglades National Park and made the argument thatthe tourist site -- and the dollars it generates -- will be at riskif nothing is done to prevent rising temperatures. He alsoannounced new funding for national parks.

Matt Bellinger, who charters fishing boats inthe Florida Keys, said he has already felt the impact ofclimate change on his business, with hotter temperatures drivingaway fish and damaging coral reefs.

Livelihoods

“This ecosystem makes up much of our livelihood,” he said bytelephone while fishing for tarpon in the Everglades. “If itsneezes we all catch a cold, because people come to go diving andsnorkeling and to see the reefs.”

Obama said conservation and environmental stewardship have beenbipartisan issues in the past, citing former President TeddyRoosevelt, who established the national park system, and RichardNixon, another former Republican president who set up theEnvironmental Protection Agency.

Taking a dig at the state’s governor, Obama said local officialsfrom both parties have been able to work together on climateissues.

“They know that simply refusing to say the words ’climatechange’ doesn’t mean that climate change isn’t happening,” hesaid.

Scrutiny for Scott

Scott has faced scrutiny this year after former officialsaccused his administration of banning them from using the words“climate change.”

“The administration didn’t want us to use those terms inofficial business,” Chris Byrd, an attorney who worked for thestate’s Department of Environmental Protection from 2008 to 2013,said in an interview. “It required us to focus on issues other thanthe gorilla in the room.”

Jeri Bustamante, a spokeswoman for Scott, declined to answerquestions about the alleged censorship. Scott has previously deniedthat the ban exists.

Scott, who has pledged to devote $5 billion over 20 years forrestoration of the Everglades, accused Obama of failing to provideadequate federal funding for the effort.

“President Obama needs to live up to his commitment on theEverglades,” Scott said Tuesday in a statement. “Our environment istoo important to neglect and it’s time for the federal governmentto focus on real solutions and live up to their promises.”

Coming Storm

Obama made several not-so-subtle references to Scott andother Florida Republicans during his speech.

“If you’ve got a coming storm, you don’t stick your head in thesand,” Obama said, standing in front of a grassy expanse under anovercast sky.

Rubio and Bush, who both live in low-lying areas ofSouth Florida, have faced questions on climate change asthey’ve met with voters in early presidential primary states.

Both have questioned humans’ influence on global temperaturesand said Obama’s initiatives to curb carbon emissions would harmthe economy.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Obama plans tokeep raising the issue of climate change as the 2016 electionsapproach.

“The president is hopeful that this will continue to add somemomentum and energy to the ongoing political debate about climatechange,” he said.

Copyright 2018 Bloomberg. All rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten,or redistributed.