From prepared to delivered, there were some telling changes:
He changed the word “agreement” from his prepared speech to “framework I just outlined,” possibly because of lack of progress in the talks?
Also-this was in the script, but an interesting change from common language: he said “common but differentiated responses” not “responsibilities”? Possibly an effort to allay developing country concerns that they have “responsibilities,” and to imply the need for actions rather than obligations?
Also-the speech had said “pieces” of an accord “are clear,” but when delivered Obama said, “should now be clear.” Were they close to a deal and it fell apart?
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.
