Break the deadlock: Berlin's cathedral is illuminated with a light installation reading "Stop the climate change!" Organised by the Berliner Dom cathedral and the WWF, the installation was illuminated from November 18 to 20, ahead of next week's climate conference Poznan, Poland.
Credit: AFP
"After eight years of obstruction and delay and denial, the U.S. is going to rejoin the world community in tackling this global challenge," added Kerry, who will be coming to Poznan with other members of the U.S. Congress.
Even though burdened negotiators walk with a lighter step at the prospect of an Obama White House, some experts wonder whether he has the means to realise his vision during a recession -- or the time to re-engage the U.S. fully ahead of the December 2009 deadline.
Other countries which last year declared their passion for tackling climate change are likewise having second thoughts as they confront slowing economies, deepening budget deficits and the costs of easing reliance on fossil fuels.
Slowing economy
Just when the Poznan talks reach a climax, European Union leaders meet in Brussels to try to resolve objections by Poland and Italy about the cost of reaching the EU's target of a 20 per cent cut in emissions by 2020 over 1990 levels.
Any flop or a fudge by Kyoto's champions would set a catastrophic tone for the negotiations in 2009.
Against this uncertain backdrop in Poznan, scientists are providing fresh dollops of gloom.
With rare exceptions, studies say climate change is happening and its eventual impact may be worse than thought, inflicting droughts, floods, loss of snow and ice, more brutal storms and rising sea levels.
Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, surged 2.2 parts per million (ppm) in 2007 to reach 383 ppm, or 37 per cent above pre-industrial levels, according to the Global Carbon Project (GCP) research consortium.
"The present concentration is the highest during the last 650,000 years and probably during the last 20 million years," GCP said. "All of these changes characterise a carbon cycle that is generating stronger climate forcing, and sooner than expected."
Obama says he will set a
Obama says he will set a goal of reducing U.S. emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and by 80 per cent by 2050, using a cap-and-trade system and a 10-year program worth 150 billion dollars in renewable energy.
"Set" the goal of .. just like the promise to " .. save or create 2 million new jobs." Save is the keyword. After losing 3 million jobs trying to achieve the goal he set, it can always be said " .. we would have lost 5 million."
By mandate and throwing your money at it he'll erase 18 years of pollution in 11 years. Gosh, makes you wonder why no one else ever thought of it. Oh yea, King Canute did. The Greens/Libs/Socialist/The Gore Messiah and Barack Messiah are their own fawning court. Unlike the King they DO believe they can stop the waves by mandate.