Global Warming / Climate Instability in the Mountain State

You Dont Have to Go to Copenhagen to Make a Difference

On Dec. 7 18, 2009, the United Nations Climate Change Conference will convene in Copenhagen to discuss a global climate treaty.

According to Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UNs Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), not every detail of a comprehensive global treaty will be finalized, but "hopefully it will close with agreements on four political essentials." Those four political essentials, absolutely critical for a viable world agreement to prevent catastrophic climate change, include the following:

r How much are the industrialized countries willing to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases?

r How much are major developing countries such as China and India willing to do to limit the growth of their emissions?

r How is the help needed by developing countries to engage in reducing their emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change going to be financed?

r How is the money going to be managed?

Yvo de Boer notes that the United States has refused to sign the Kyoto Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions because of fears the treaty would harm the U.S. economy, because it didnt involve enough action from developing nations and because of the failure of the U.S. Senate to support it.

De Boer feels that the Copenhagen conference will be successful because the Senates Foreign Relations Committee, through John Kerry, will add support, and President Obama may be able to convince China and India to sign the next treaty.

Its clear that Obama understands the seriousness of human-caused climate change more than any president before him did. Plus, he has already committed more tax dollars for energy efficiency and renewable energy than any president in U.S. history.

The Senate remains a major stumbling block to success. Nearly all Republican senators and most Democrats from coal and oil states will oppose substantial U.S. commitment to greenhouse gas reductions without huge compromises from India and China. Even then, the coal and oil lobby will fight to derail U.S. commitment to any international treaty.

The fact remains that despite Obamas enthusiasm, the United States cant follow through with an agreement without congressional approval. The Clinton administration never obtained congressional support to sign the Kyoto agreement.

The 350.org project, led by environmentalist Bill McKibben, is spearheading an international day of climate action on October 24. The goals are: 1) To promote awareness of the critical need to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels back to 350 ppm to avoid catastrophic climate change and, 2) To create world-wide public momentum to encourage success at Copenhagen.

As of June 29, there were 1,078 actions planned in 67 countries. Information on the October 24 event and how to register an action is available at www.350.org.