The BBC reports that a "meaningful agreement" between key states has been reached at the Copenhagen climate conference. "Analysts welcomed the fact that a deal had been done, but said its achievements were modest."
US President Barack Obama said the deal would be a foundation for global action but there was "much further to go".
President Obama may have a deal with Brazil, China, India and South Africa - but it's not at all clear that he has a deal with anyone else.
While the White House was announcing the agreement, many other - perhape most other - delegations had not even seen it.
A comment from a UK official suggested the text was not yet final and the Bolivian delegation has already complained about the way it was reached - "anti-democratic, anti-transparent and unacceptable".
He said the US, China, Brazil, India and South Africa had "agreed to set a mitigation target to limit warming to no more than 2C and, importantly, to take action to meet this objective".
He added: "We are confident that we are moving in the direction of a significant accord."
Responding to Friday's developments, Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven expressed disappointment.
"It seems there are too few politicians in this world capable of looking beyond the horizon of their own narrow self-interest, let alone caring much for the millions of people who are facing down the threat of climate change," he said.
"It is now evident that beating global warming will require a radically different model of politics than the one on display here in Copenhagen."
Looks to me like John Sauven pretty much hit the nail on the head....
ReplyDeletePoliticicians can't seem to see past getting their sorry selves re elected every few years!
And I was hoping the world leaders wouldn't be assholes like LIEberman, Nelson and the republicans. Woe is me for my optimism.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Sauven is right on target but isn't this the first such climate conference ever?
ReplyDeleteBrazil, China, and India are among the most important rising industrial countries. Those places plus Europe (whose leaders are already committed to dealing with the problem) and the US account for most of the potential greenhouse-gas emissions over the next ten years. If they actually stick to the agreement, it will be far more significant than simply multiplying the number of small countries that sign on.
ReplyDeleteBy contrast, don't forget what a mess we were in for the previous eight years, with the world's biggest industrial power run by an administration that hardly even admitted global warming was a real problem.