It’s Getting Hot In Here

The exhaustion is beginning to kick in at just past midnight here in Bali, Indonesia, although we expect negotiations to go through the night. Right now, countries are negotiating behind closed doors to pull a Bali Mandate together before the close of the conference (which should have been 5 hours ago).

Earlier today, the European Union stated it would block Bush’s Major Emitters conference next month if the United States refused to include the range of 25-40% below 1990 levels decrease in emissions by 2020. The EU threat is being labeled the boldest confrontation of the U.S. in the past decade and a strong political maneuver to further isolate and pressure the Bush Administration to join the international community.

As countries scramble to nail down an agreement, it appears, according to the German Environmental Minister Sigmar Gabriel, “The U.S. changed their attitude a little bit.”

The Major Emitters process was Bush’s attempt to maneuver around these international climate negotiations and according to Harlan Watson, “binding emissions aren’t the only solution.” My simple understanding of the science says otherwise - that we need to reduce global emissions quickly to prevent run-away global warming.

There is hope that the EU’s political pressure may cause the Bush Administration to cave. But, if anything productive is to come from Bali, we must pray that the United States accepts the range of emission reduction targets that will protect our future from catastrophic climate change.

Check back here in an hour or two for an update from the floor of the negotiations.

Yesterday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel praised President Bush for the climate change initiative he is bringing to the 33rd Annual meeting of the Group of Eight (G richest nations on June 6. His proposal will allow each nation to choose their own targets for cuts in carbon dioxide emissions for the medium term. While it is nice that our President has finally taken a step towards fighting global warming, it is a dangerous initiative because there is no real accountability to ensure we reach the goals of the Kyoto Protocol or the UN climate change report’s scientifically based solutions.

Kyoto calls for the 35 most industrialized nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) just 5% by the time it expires in 2012. Meanwhile, the top climate scientists from the United Nations say we must reduce our emissions 80% by 2050. The refusal of both the Clinton and Bush Administrations to sign the Kyoto Protocol is a disaster. We need real leadership in this country and more courageous leaders in the European Union to challenge the United States to cut its GHG emissions.
Continue reading ‘The G8 Meeting and Insufficient Leadership’