It\’s Getting Hot In Here

The governments of Denmark, Poland, and France hosted a conference on Monday to discuss the role of the United States at this December’s UN Climate Negotiations in Poznań, Poland. These negotiations will set the stage for a final post-Kyoto climate treaty to be signed in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009. The Poland negotiations need to produce a robust roadmap with a shared vision that leads to a climate agreement in 2009. From the lead climate negotiator of Denmark, to the Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Strategic Planning from the UN, the message was clear. The United States must take the lead in ensuring a strong climate treaty by Copenhagen.

Paula Dobriansky, the lead climate negotiator from the US State Department also spoke at the conference; however, no one seemed interested in how the Bush Administration will approach negotiations in Poznań. The Bush Administration’s approach to climate change over the past several years has already been made clear in its refusal to ratify Kyoto or establish federal legislation on GHG emissions reductions. All eyes are on President-Elect Barack Obama and the members of his transition team who are expected to attend the negotiations in December. Representatives of President-Elect Obama will likely be some of the most popular and sought-out people at the negotiations.

Denmark, France, and Poland have a similar set of expectations for the new administration. First and foremost, American leadership on a future climate treaty is essential. Second, all parties agree that, apart from American leadership, US domestic legislation is essential to a global treaty. Will the Obama administration be able to enact serious climate legislation in its first twelve months in office?

It is a daunting task but we have reason to believe, as we saw in federal government’s response to the financial crisis, that our government is capable of enacting swift, effective legislation in the face of crisis. Many would agree that climate change will prove to be an even larger crisis than the financial crisis if not addressed. As the ambassador of the European Commission, John Bruton, explained, approximately .05% of GDP is needed to respond to climate change, while the cost of inaction is around 5-20% of GDP. The choice is clear, the challenges are surmountable, and all hopes are pinned on Barack Obama.

Senator Obama’s election brings hope to millions around the world, especially those working on climate change, given his promise of a clean energy future. He has the ability to change the course of the US response to climate change and to react effectively to our generation’s most serious dilemma. Mr. Obama, seven billion people are counting on you to take the lead and secure the world for future generations.

SustainUS, the US Youth Network for Sustainable Development and many other international youth delegations will be present in Poland to hold governments accountable for securing our future. SustainUS, in particular, is there to represent the over 340,000 PowerVoters who helped vote Mr. Obama into office under the belief and hope that he will offer an about-face on US climate policy. SustainUS will lobby on behalf of all American youth to secure United States’ leadership on the completion of a strong, legally binding climate treaty with science-based targets by December 2009.