'VIEW FROM THE MOON'

[Hoje Macau, Macau]

 

 

Luxemburger Wort, Luxembourg

Making the U.S. Senate a Climate Offer it Can't Refuse

 

By Jakub Adamowicz

 

Translated By Jonathan Lobsien

 

October 22, 2009

 

Luxembourg - Luxemburger Wort - Original Article (German)

With about 47 days to go before the U.N. Climate Conference in Copenhagen, the E.U. and Japan have adopted binding emission reduction targets that put them far ahead of the U.S. and Australia. Meanwhile, China (reducing emissions; adopting reforestation) and Brazil (slowing the clearing of rain forests) show a substantial willingness to compromise. At the same time, other emerging markets (like India) unwaveringly cling to minimalistic positions.

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

In dispute is a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol: A comprehensive agreement would have the potentially decisive advantage of tying together the climate policies of the industrialized, emerging, and developing nations. On the other hand, separate agreements dealing with each of these three categories could allow for more progress in some sectors without having to wait around for things like the approval of the U.S. Senate.

 

 

But the key to a global climate agreement lies under the U.S. Capitol dome. At the moment there, laws on health care reform and the regulation of the financial markets are the priority. This could lead to a summit of vague obligations. That would be regrettable but not fatal. Obama’s legislative proposals are still on the table: reducing 2005 emission levels by 17 percent by 2020, and by 83 percent by 2050. Based on these figures, a comprehensive agreement should be achievable in Copenhagen. It would be a deal which, in retrospect, could deprive the U.S. Senate the capacity to refuse.

 

CLICK HERE FOR GERMAN VERSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US October 26, 12:00am]