US President Barack Obama brought no new offers with him to Copenhagen on Friday, but he has made progress in talks with China.
As Copenhagen Approaches, China Offers to Rein in Emissions
With the Copenhagen climate summit just around the corner, the world's largest polluters are finally plegding to do something about unchecked greenhouse gas emissions. On Thursday, one day after the US committed to concrete CO2 emission reduction goals, China too made a promise to reduce its "carbon intensity."
The pledge is not exactly what environmentalists had been hoping for. Instead of lowering absolute emissions, Beijing will cut the amount of CO2 emitted per yuan of economic activity by 45 percent by 2020. Essentially, whereas Europe has agreed to slash CO2 output and the US has offered a minor trim, China is merely saying it will slow the rate at which its CO2 emissions are growing. China has been resistant to cut absolute emissions, arguing that climate concerns must be considered in concert with economic growth.
Nevertheless, the United Nations and others reacted positively to the Chinese announcement, perhaps another indication that momentum is building ahead of the Copenhagen climate talks, which begin on Dec. 7. China and the US are the world's top two polluters and their participation is considered critical if Copenhagen is going to ultimately result in a deal. China also announced that premier Wen Jiabao would attend the summit.
"The US commitment to specific, midterm emission-cut targets and China's commitment to specific action on energy efficiency can unlock two of the last doors to a comprehensive agreement," said Yvo de Boer, the United Nation's top climate negotiator.
Still, China's pledge is only a "binding" voluntary measure. Xie Zhenhua, the Chinese climate policy representative, who lead the press conference at which the cuts were announced, commented that "Chinese people stick to their word."
ccl
Brazil President Hands "Gringos" the Bill for Amazon Rain Forest
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Thursday that "gringos," or rich Western nations, should be the ones to pay to protect the Amazon rain forest from deforestation, because they already destroyed their own forests through destructive logging and farming practices. Da Silva made the comments at a conference on the Amazon that was sparsely attended by world leaders.
"I don't want any gringo asking us to let an Amazon resident die of hunger under a tree," Da Silva said according to the Associated Press. "We want to preserve, but they will have to pay the price for this preservation because we never destroyed our forest like they mowed theirs down a century ago."
Da Silva's efforts are not without merit, as many see the Amazon rainforest, which absorbs CO2, as one of the world's best defenses against climate change. Brazil has managed to reduce the level of deforestation to roughly 7,000 square kilometers (2,702 square miles) a year, the lowest level in decades. So far Norway has offered up $1 billion by 2015 to help save the rainforest, a significant sum, but not close to the $21 billion Brazil hopes to raise.
ccl
Americans Gobble Up the Resources of Five Earths
International think tank Global Footprint Network, based in Oakland, Calif., released a study on Wednesday that shows if the entire world consumed resources at the same rate as the US does, humanity would need five Earths to sustain itself. Averaged across the entire globe, humans use roughly 50 percent more resources annually than the Earth produces. The study draws its conclusion from a calculation of the ecological footprint of average citizens. The average American has a footprint of 9 global hectares, while the average European has a footprint of half that. The world, however, has resources enough for a footprint of only 1.8 global hectares per person.
ccl
India and US Forge "Green Partnership"
Ahead of the Copenhagen climate summit, the United States and India agreed to enter into a "green partnership" this week aimed at addressing the interlinking challenges of food security, energy security and climate change. India and the United States are seen as two crucial cogs in the upcoming Copenhagen climate talks, since they are two of the largest emitters of CO2 in the world.
As such, both countries agreed to work together and with others to achieve an agreeable outcome at the United Nations meeting. Any such agreement, the countries added, must reflect the need of developing nations for financial resources and technological development.
As a part of the partnership, Prime Minister Singh of India and US President Obama launched a Clean Energy and Climate Change Initiative that aims to improve the lives of citizens in both countries by developing and improving access to clean, affordable energy, thereby creating new jobs. The initiative calls for both countries to cooperate in areas such as solar and wind technologies, clean coal and carbon capture technologies and bio-fuels.
ccl
Post to other social networks:
Stay informed with our free news services:
| All news from SPIEGEL International | Twitter | RSS |
| All news from Business section | RSS |
© SPIEGEL ONLINE
All Rights Reserved
Reproduction only allowed with the permission of SPIEGELnet GmbH
