Der Spiegel - "The Global Climate Summit In Copenhagen Has Failed"

[hatrack]

EDIT

In the end, the mini draft accord that about 30 leading countries agreed upon Friday evening only included the provision on the 2-degree mark -- without any concrete plans for the decades to come. Still, they only made non-binding commitments when it came to the limits that scientists have set as thresholds for preventing a climate catastrophe. Moreover, given the fiasco in Copenhagen, this 2-degree limit might no longer be kept.

No wonder so many of the other of the 192 total countries almost immediately tore to shreds the compromise plan that the group of 30 countries presented in the main hall. Those countries that could face destruction as a result of climate change, in particular, could not see any solutions in it.

Now we are faced with the threat of an impasse in global climate politics. And the consequences of this holdup will primarily be felt by the poorest of the poor. Experts anticipate that they will be subjected to storms and flooding stronger than ever before. Their crops will wither. Melting glaciers might deprive several million people of their water supplies and deprive them of their livelihoods. Nor will the industrialized states be spared from its consequences. But, thanks to their technical and financial resources, they will be in a better position to cope with them.

The debacle of Copenhagen is also Barack Obama's debacle. The US president made only one concession at the summit meeting: He pledged to join those providing financial assistance to poor countries. These funds are meant to allow such countries to be in a better position to combat the consequences of climate change and to pursue economic growth in a more eco-friendly way, just like the more established industrialized states have done. Beginning in 2020, these funds should amount to an annual $100 billion (€70 billion) -- which US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton boasted in Copenhagen was "a lot of money." But when it came to the issue of how much of this money would come from the United States, she didn't say a thing. And even the mini draft agreement of the "Copenhagen Accord" hammered out by the world's leading nations doesn't throw any light on this matter.

EDIT

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,668111,00.html

[snagglepuss]

1. "The debacle of Copenhagen is also Barack Obama's debacle."

[HughMoran]

3. I see you found the harsh words for Obama

... as predictable as rain.

I preferred the article that stated that the idea that all of these countries could come together and accomplish anything was ludicrous.

[earth mom]

5. Who in the hell should hold the responsibility? It's up to Obama to take charge.

Except he's NOT.

So get a clue.

Obama's wimpy do nothing attitude in Copenhagen was obvious to the ENTIRE world. :thumbsdown:

[amborin]

6. +10

[joshcryer]

2. How many of us crazy "reactionary," "doomer," "can't understand political reality" people...

...predicted this?

*raises hand*

[RufusTFirefly]

4. Hand raised also. n/t

[GliderGuider]

7. Ummm...