"Future
news from September, 2012: After eight infuriated, highly-armed
polar
bears seize the U.N. General Assembly, the world suddenly realizes
it
confronts a new form of terrorism."
[Hoje
Macau, Macau]
Le Figaro, France
Climate Change: World Must Ratchet Up Pressure
on Obama
"The pressure has to rise further as the deadline to
Copenhagen approaches. This turning point in the United States, so
long-awaited, must be converted in terms of international commitments."
EDITORIAL By Pierre Rousselin
Translated By Juliet Fox
September 24,
2009
France
- Le Figaro - Original Article (French)
On climate change, as on everything else, Barack Obama is a
formidable orator. At the U.N.
on Tuesday, there was no better advocate in the fight against global
warming. Once again, his argument was to emphasize the contrast with the preceding
Administration. “I am proud to say that the United
States has done more to promote clean energy and reduce carbon pollution in the
last eight months than at any other time in our history.” Certainly. But the
world is waiting for action.
With three months until the Copenhagen summit,
the pressure is mounting. Despite the expectations Obama has raised, the United
States may well be the major obstacle to a treaty to replace the Kyoto
Protocol, which expires at the end of 2012.
The reason is simple: the American
Senate is in no hurry to pass a bill to reduce CO2 emissions that was approved
by the House of Representatives. The Republicans are united against it and the
Democrats are badly divided. The fight against global warming is paying the
price due to the backlog over healthcare reform. In the absence of a vote by
Congress, Obama will find himself in Copenhagen without a mandate for
negotiation.
[Het Parool, The Netherlands]
Meanwhile, other major polluters are
making progress. Europe is racing ahead with its
climate-energy package adopted under the
French presidency. Japan's new prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, intends to
follow suit. Even China, the leading polluter on the planet which was
exempted under Kyoto to allow its economy to catch up, has shown a commendable
willingness to help. Yesterday, President Hu Jintao pledged to “notably” reduce
carbon gas emissions that result from the intensity China's economic growth. It has yet to specify precisely how much.
-- Japanese
Prime Minister Yukio Hatayama Addresses
U.N. Climate Summit 
-- Chinese President Hu Jintao Addresses
U.N. Climate Summit
Up to now, America's most recalcitrant
have taken refuge in China's apathetic foot-dragging. As for the Europeans,
they've been reluctant to criticize Obama so as not to hamper his efforts
vis-ŕ-vis still skeptical public opinion.
Posted by
WORLDMEETS.US
The pressure has to rise further as the
deadline to Copenhagen approaches. This turning point in the United States, so
long-awaited, must be converted in terms of international commitments. Such is
the proposed objective of the proposed November summit of Nicolas Sarkozy. But
even with this, it will not be easy, as our Head of State desires, to “let us
not engage in small diplomatic games … what is required today are proposals for
action to take our responsibilities.”
-- France President Nicolas Sarkozy Addresses
U.N. Climate Summit
CLICK
HERE FOR FRENCH VERSION
[Posted by
WORLDMEETS.US September 26, 10:49am]
