Why the U.S. Must Take Action to Save Copenhagen
posted by: GinaMarie Cheeseman 11 days ago
By most reports the climate talks in Barcelona this week ended in a virtual stalemate. “There is a lot of work still to be done,” said Artur Runge-Metzger, head of the European delegation said.
One of the reasons the Barcelona talks were not a rousing success is because the U.S. refused to offer targets for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions. Jonathan Pershing, chief U.S. negotiator, said little when questioned by reporters about U.S. targets. “I have no information to share with you on that… We are studying this question. It's a decision that is yet to be made.”
The Congress has yet to pass a climate change bill. This week, the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee pushed a climate bill through which requires emissions to be reduced 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. The House bill passed last summer requires a 17 percent reduction.
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) believes emissions from developed countries need to be reduced by 25 to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 in order to limit warming to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (two degrees Celsius).
German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke to the US Congress on Tuesday, urging them to make a commitment at Copenhagen. “Once we in Europe and America show ourselves ready to adopt binding agreements,” she said, “we will also be able to persuade China and India to join.”
African nations boycott talks on Tuesday
On the second day for talks, November 3, 55 African nations boycotted the talks, calling for a suspension until developed countries committed to a 40 percent reduction by 2020 over 1990 levels. Gambian chief delegate Pa Ousman Jarju said, “We consider the quality of ambition stated by the developed countries unacceptable and cannot proceed on the substance of 20 to 30 percent cuts.”
Jarju added, “We have to consider ambitious targets and numbers, and Africa's official opinion is that (developed countries) cut by a minimum of 40 percent.”
Bruno Sekoli, chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) group, said, “Africa and Africans are dying now while those who are historically responsible are not taking actions.”
“African countries have shown they are not going to sit back and accept a bad deal in Copenhagen,” said a spokesperson for Oxfam.
The G77 backed Africa’s boycott. Lumumba Di-Aping of Sudan, chairman of the G77 block, said on Friday that the pledges of the developed countries to reduce emissions “add up to only 11 to 18 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.” He called the levels “unacceptable.”
Sign the following petitions, and tell President Obama, the House, and the Senate to a set stricter emissions reduction target.
Set a science-based emissions target now (Target: Obama)
Tell Congress: Re-write the Fake Climate Bill (Target: House)
Support Stronger Boxer-Kerry Climate Bill (Target: Senate)
Read more: copenhagen, global warming, climate change, climate conference, climate talks
comments
Energy [R]evolution
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/global-warming-and-energy/energyrevolution
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
'Talia S.', your profile could not be found. Another one of a slew of them lately.
Second, it's false that I'm 'putting everyone down'. Not true, false. A false generality. You're discounted immediately by that.
And what 'source' are you talking about? Obviously there's many different sources. And then people say their source is 'true' and others are the ones with the propaganda.
"this site once gave great support to great causes. Now it seems someone with less ideal values and human concern is running it."
What does THAT mean?
Nothing.
It's actually merely an opinion. I think this site gives a lot of support to a lot of great causes and so would a lot of other people on it. Probably not the way you would like it to or doesn't agree with you. That's all.
The second part of that statement is some vague generality that means nothing again!
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
First of all, Kenneth, quit putting everybody down. Nobody knows the absolute, but many self-motivated and informed people have posted here. Through personal relationships with media and politics, I know that agendas are attained, while power and wealth is sought. So in light of not voicing who I feel is wrong, or right, AMEN to the well-informed, non-media influenced, aware people who are raising voice to save our nation. And I agree, this site once gave great support to great causes. Now it seems someone with less ideal values and human concern is running it.
The best place to obtain knowledge is from the source. If you want to know about something, get online (where anything is possible) and ask someone who is there. (Information on flooding in Ecuador could be read from someone there, or a family member who has received a report.
If climate change is a concern, look at the history of the natural cycles of the earth. Put an end to propaganda. We have more important things facing our nation, our humanity and our families.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
David D. you got it all wrong the US is considered the biggest offender of CO2 emissions and third world countries are at the bottom of this list of offenders. New analysis shows that adopting comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation could create up to 1.9 million jobs. Why we need to sign a treaty to do so is beyond me. America is asleep on this and should have been leading the way on this long time ago. Our President should be home passing legislation not going to Copenhagen ... when he has done the job that needs to be done and we show them the progress we are making there will be no need to sign this pact as we will be the leaders and setting the way. Decreasing our fossil fuel fix and using more renewable energies is good for national security, economically and ecologically. This is our Highways and bridges out of the recession ... soon to be a depression if Obama does not get on the ball!!
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Kenneth L if it is such a NWO conspiracy theory as you call it please tell me how can it be when many leaders such as Kissenger, Bush Sr.and Obama (his speech in Berlin) have come out and said they are moving towards a NWO. Boy some people are just deaf and blind and can not get past the veil of deceit. It this happens America will loose its Sovereignty and we will have to bow to world pressure this means we will no longer enjoy the freedoms we have today they will be gone.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Al Gore is the seven headed media beast right out of Revelations
watch this video NOW
American Holocaust the Dust Bowl, stock market crash and Great Depression resulted in the deaths of an estimated 7.5 million Americans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO-eVe2xJZs
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Al Gore is the seven headed media beast right out of Revelations
watch this video NOW
American Holocaust the Dust Bowl, stock market crash and Great Depression resulted in the deaths of an estimated 7.5 million Americans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO-eVe2xJZs
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Al Gore is the seven headed media beast right out of Revelations
watch this video NOW
American Holocaust the Dust Bowl, stock market crash and Great Depression resulted in the deaths of an estimated 7.5 million Americans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO-eVe2xJZs
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Well Jo-anne, there are also credible scientists, many of them, who say human-assisted global warming is real and true.
So what's your point?
You obviously think it's a scam and you're a 'new world order conspiracy' theorist and you want others to 'know the truth'.
What truth? You're on one side of the fence and others are on the other.
What does 'It appears he is still "stuck"'.... Curious verb. Makes me think you are someone else and not who you say you are. I could be wrong.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Shame on name calling. I've never ever in my life been called a political anything. I'm still shocked at the folks here at this site and will no longer participate, read your nonsense articles, or ever comment here again. Total waste of my time. I just voiced my own opinion of the so called GW situation. Again this is happening in our whole solar system, not just earth. Don't believe me, look at all the evidence, not just Feargus's suggestions. It appears he is still stuck believing the nonsense. There are credible professionals trying to inform us of the truth they have found and no one gets to hear much about them, their findings don't agree with the approved findings so they are called crackpots and discredited falsely and the media won't touch them, unless it's to mock them and make sure everyone else does. I wish I could remember some sources to back my words, but I can't. Sorry. So don't take my word for these subjects or any of the others posting here or anywhere else like this. It's too damned important. Look for your self. Our future depends on your intelligence not your knee jerk reaction to what you are being told is the right thing to do. I believe there are enough intelligent people to make a difference. Peace
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account:
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
1297368