U.S. Wins Long-Anticipated Fossil
Posted on 14. Dec, 2009 by Ben Jervey in U.S.A., bits
Not for anything done specifically today, but for a broader lack of ambition that–as this final week of a two-year negotiation process kicks off–that stands as an enormous hurdle to progress. The fossil:
FIRST PLACE: UNITED STATES of AMERICA
The USA wins its first Fossil of the COP for two reasons: first, for making absolutely no commitment on long-term financing for developing countries to cope with the impacts of climate change and reduce their own emissions even further, a failure that could sink the talks. Second, because the US–far and away the biggest cumulative emitter of global warming pollution in world history–has among the weakest mid-term emissions targets of any major developed country, a laughable 4% below 1990 levels by 2020. Will US negotiators ignore the interests of their own children and the poorest nations on the planet? Or will they bring the US into the community of nations, rich and poor alike, rising to the biggest challenge humanity has ever faced? US, all eyes on you: is it Hopenhagen or Brokenhagen?
Update: We’ve got video of the awards ceremony:
The Adopter - Ben Jervey
Ben Jervey comes from New York City. He works to better communicate climate, energy, and environmental issues to mainstream audiences. His reporting and work on climate change and clean energy have brought him from the streets of New York to the glaciers of eastern Greenland, to the mountain villages of Vietnam. read more»
The Adopted - Meet the US Delegation
The US delegation from Bonn through Copenhagen is being lead by Jonathan Pershing, longtime veteran of climate negotiations with 30 years under his belt working on climate and energy issues on the domestic and international levels. read more»