The White House announced today that President Obama will attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen December 9, the day before he accepts his Nobel Peace prize in Oslo, Norway.
“The president believes it is possible to reach a meaningful agreement in Copenhagen,” the White House statement said about the conference commonly referred to as COP-15. “The president’s decision to go is a sign of his continuing commitment and leadership to find a global solution to the global threat of climate change.”
During the two-week conference, international leaders are seeking to reach commitments nations will take to reduce emissions and other actions to slow climate change. The White House says President Obama is prepared to support a reduction of U.S. emissions by about 17 percent below 2005 levels in 2020. This target is in line with proposed legislation being considered by Congress.
Most heads of state will be attending the final days of COP-15. Do you think Obama’s presence at the conference will have an impact?
Comments (7)
Ollivier
Location: France
26 November 2009 at 13:29 EST
Permalink
towards the VITAL necessity for US of working with United Nations for :
- climate issue “Framework Convention on Climate Change” http://unfccc.int/ http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33031&Cr=climate+change&Cr1=disaster , http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/climatechange/gateway
- development and humanitarian issues http://www.un.org/fr/development/
http://socialinternetintelligencereport.com/2009/11/somalia-%e2%80%93-un-accuses-us-of-delaying-food-aid-to-somalia-the-daily/
- cultural issue United Nations - Alliance of Civilizations - Home http://www.unaoc.org in order to end the Middle East POLLUTING wars, because ONLY cultivated personnalities could be efficient mediators, by understanding the Silk Road cultural background from Mediterranean to Korea…
Basil Maughan
Location: Barbados, West Indies
29 November 2009 at 09:08 EST
Permalink
Since President Obama is only planning to attend during the first day or so, his impact and that of the United States is likely to be diminished. The final day or two when the agreement is being hammered out will be critical and in my view, a visible American presence will be important. No one else in the country has the political and diplomatic clout that this president has. I understand however, that he doesn’t want to get too far ahead of Congress or appear to be.
If he doesn’t return to the conference at crunch time, perhaps he should consider a live video message.
Kim
Location: USA
29 November 2009 at 21:13 EST
Permalink
If only Obama actually cared about and listened to We the People instead of forging on with his own agenda. Or is it Agenda 21?
He is killing our soldiers by ignoring his job as their Commander in Chief, and spending the people’s money on parties and travel, yet unemployment rises and retirement funds diminished.
His idea of health care is liked by only 38% of Americans yet he lies about what it really entails. Obama forgets that we can read and we also have common sense, so this trip to Copenhagen will fail us.
If he wants to see climate change come to Minnesota, we call it Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.
Togar Silaban
Location: Surabaya, Indonesia
1 December 2009 at 02:10 EST
Permalink
It is hard to believe that Obama will make a significant move on climate change. As Kim mentioned, Obama interest will be internal problems such as health care etc.
However, we all aware USA is the biggest GHG emitter , and US lifestyle killing many people around the world. So, US and Obama should pay to the world by giving more attention to climate change.
Netpal
Location: Waterbury CT
1 December 2009 at 18:25 EST
Permalink
Congratulations on your Nobel Prize!
Netpal
Jay
Location: Seattle
4 December 2009 at 19:54 EST
Permalink
We should reduce all we can but what I have seen what the states do with the laws they implement such as using your fireplace in Seattle an individual would have to have internet access to check if its a no burn day. Then they stalk you… waiting out side your house for hours then fine you for the hours they see you burning… as a Seattle Chimney Sweep I think they should do better things then just use the system to fine you and make more money to put more of these B.S. laws into place…… but Thats what America is about yeah!!!
Ronnie
Location: Tempe, AZ
9 December 2009 at 22:58 EST
Permalink
Where are we getting the 17% below that of 2005.. By 2020?? That’s not good enough! The united states decides what vehicles can be sold in the United States based on thing like emissions, safety, etc… We CAN and HAVE created cars that run off of HHO gas (water), with absolutely 0 harmful emissions. Why doesn’t our government set the standard of emissions at zero for cars to be sold in the US? Add in the fact that a full tank of gas would be a tank of water. (a very small tank) the only reason that our government is not fixing our global problems is because they don’t want to. And the only reason we the people aren’t doing anything is because we believe that our government is playing for our team, and will fix the problems if they ever get too severe… Use simple common sense to assess these situations.. COP-15/Obama will never solve our problems.