Binding international climate deal in Copenhagen?

On Sunday, President Obama and other world leaders agreed to postpone reaching a legally binding agreement in Copenhagen this December.  Then later this week the President asserted that the international UN climate talks, which begin December 7th, will still have "immediate operational effect."

The first announcement came from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting in Singapore, the second on a visit to China, another major player in the international climate negotiations.  From Singapore, Michael Froman, the U.S. deputy national security adviser for international economic affairs, told the New York Times:

“There was an assessment by the leaders that it is unrealistic to expect a full internationally, legally binding agreement could be negotiated between now and Copenhagen, which starts in 22 days.”

That Copenhagen won't yield a politically binding agreement is deeply disappointing news.  The world simply cannot afford to delay strong action on climate change.  With every month that we postpone action, we are abetting climate change and its horrific results: widespread poverty and pollution, displaced communities, whole island nations swallowed by the rising sea.

Its time for President Obama and the U.S. Senate to step it up and lead on an international climate deal. The Copenhagen summit could still make significant progress toward a binding agreement, which could be finalized at the Mexico City UN climate summit in December 2010, or earlier.

This week, while meeting with President Hu Jintao of China, President Obama reasserted the significance of the Copenhagen talks. "Our aim there is... not a partial accord or a political declaration, but rather an accord that covers all the issues in the negotiations and one that has immediate operational effect."  

The world needs to see President Obama demonstrate bold leadership in Copenhagen.  He should begin with showing up.

One of the barriers to the international deal is the fact that the U.S. has not yet passed legislation that puts binding limits on carbon pollution domestically. Without a clear signal that the United States will reduce its carbon emissions, it cedes bargaining power, credibility, and moral leadership in international talks.

But Senators Kerry, Lieberman, and Graham are seeking to release a blueprint of a bipartisan Senate climate and energy bill in time for the Copenhagen negotiations. If this Senate bill sets bold emissions targets and investments in the clean-energy economy, it could strengthen the U.S. position at the climate talks. 

Please take action for a strong climate and energy bill now, by emailing your Senator. If you live in Connecticut, Massachusetts, or South Carolina, call the co-sponsoring Senators directly.

The climate negotiations are the time for the United States to step up our leadership and commit to ending the climate crisis  We must throw our support behind a deal that if fair and just for all nations, north and south, industrialized and developing.  If the United States leads in Copenhagen, we can be proud of our role in reaching a binding global deal to end the climate crisis.

But if we continue to delay, we bear responsibility for the price of our own inaction.