Copenhagen Summit: What’s at Stake?
At Copenhagen, world leaders may hold the fate of the climate in their hands. (image: gs-press.com.au)
On Wednesday, Matt McDermott at Planet Green offered up a concise look at what’s really at stake in the upcoming Copenhagen climate talks this December. It can really be broken down into three main areas:
1. The Goal – come to a global climate change agreement that will replace the Kyoto Protocol after its 2012 expiration.
2. The Specifics – “Science says that greenhouse gas emissions need to peak by 2020 to avoid catastrophic climate change.” This means the rich nations of the world need to commit to an 80–90 percent reduction in emissions by 2050, with an initial goal of 25–40 percent by 2020.
3. The Problem – Rich nations aren’t pledging anywhere near the needed amount, with Norway committed to just 30 percent, and the United States still grappling with a climate bill in the Senate. With China and India claiming they won’t commit to higher-level reductions because of poverty, the issue becomes more and more complicated.
Though Barbara Boxer recently said that the U.S. could make pledges in Copenhagen without a signed bill, McDermott points out that the biggest hurdle faced in Copenhagen is a political one. The world has the technology to do what needs to be done. The question is, can we all agree on how exactly to make sure it happens?
US Will Propose Emissions Cuts at Copenhagen | HeatingOil.com says: says:
[...] the ongoing saga of what to expect from the U.S. at next month’s climate change summit in Copenhagen, a senior [...]
As Hopes for Treaty out of Copenhagen Fade, Possibility of Climate Progress Remains | HeatingOil.com says: says:
[...] officials to do, it’s talk—but what happened? How did putting in place an actual treaty to replace the soon-to-expire Kyoto Protocols turn into simply hoping to advance international [...]
Eye on Copenhagen: Can the World Agree on a Climate Treaty to Replace Kyoto? | HeatingOil.com says: says:
[...] The Copenhagen conference is the biggest climate change meeting since the Kyoto Protocol, and has been preceded by a number of conferences that tried to build a foundation for agreement at Copenhagen. As the Kyoto Protocol is due to expire, Copenhagen offers the opportunity for a global climate change treaty to succeed Kyoto. As many onlookers have noted, much is at stake. [...]
African Nations Deal Climate Change Negotiations Another Setback | HeatingOil.com says: says:
[...] like China, won’t commit to high levels of carbon reduction because of concern over the economic impact. That means that the world’s two most populous nations, both economic powerhouses in their own [...]
Copenhagen Goals Downgraded to Political “Handshake” Agreement | HeatingOil.com says: says:
[...] all the hoopla and hope surrounding the upcoming climate change conference in Copenhagen, the Associated Press reported [...]
US–China Disagree Over Emissions Ahead of Copenhagen Conference | HeatingOil.com says: says:
[...] that there might be an agreement between the world’s two biggest emitters before the global climate change conference in Copenhagen in [...]
admin says: says:
Canada Guy: Hopefully it’s not our last chance! The Copenhagen conference will be important, and we’ll be watching it closely here at HeatingOil.com. Follow along and add your own two cents.
Canada Guy says: says:
The conference in Copenhagen is likely to be a very important one historically. This might well be our last chance to turn things around.
http://watching-history.blogspot.com/2009/10/copenhagen.html