Highlighting environmental record, President Obama to address Lake Tahoe Summit

A kayaker paddles along Zephyr Cove in 2015 on Lake Tahoe in Nevada. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP)

President Obama will address the annual Lake Tahoe Summit at the end of this month, the White House confirmed Monday, in a move intended to help cement his legacy as a reformer on environmental issues.

The Aug. 31 event will take place on the Nevada lake's South Shore, a backdrop the president's remarks will focus on as he underscores a commitment to addressing climate change and preserving the country's natural treasures for future generations.

"President Obama has made these issues a priority for his administration, and looks forward to discussing how we can continue to work towards a solution," White House Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz said in a statement.

Now in its 20th year, the Lake Tahoe Summit brings federal, state and local leaders together to review policy designed to protect the area. The event's first champion was President Bill Clinton, who signed an executive order to protect the cobalt-blue lake and its environs.