The United States and the U.N. Climate Conference in Copenhagen

The United Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen is set for December 7th through December 18th 2009. The main goal of this conference is to create an international treaty that establishes a global climate agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol which expires in 2012. The target of the Kyoto Protocol was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5.2% of 1990 levels by 2010.

The Kyoto Protocol was important because it set international standards and commitments for greenhouse gas emissions which demonstrated an international effort to protect the environment. It is crucial that the U.N. Climate Conference in Copenhagen ends with a treaty because the work that has been started to combat global warming is not yet over. Without a comprehensive and binding treaty, it cannot be possible to expect countries to commit to long-term emission reductions.

The United States has an especially important role in the Copenhagen conference. The U.S. has the chance to be a leader at this conference. However, the legitimacy of this leadership is heavily tied to domestic policy in America. It is important for the U.S. to pass domestic legislation that sets targets for emission reductions before Copenhagen. However, any legislation passed should show a serious dedication to cutting emissions. The American Clean Energy and Security Act, passed in May 2009, aims to reduce emissions by 4% of 1990 levels, and the Boxer-Kerry bill has proposed to cut emissions by 7% of 1990 levels. But, the scientific community has asserted that a 40% reduction of 1990 levels is necessary to really make a difference. While it is important to see the U.S. taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the proposed reductions are a very small margin of what is actually needed to effect global climate change. For the United States to take a real leadership role in the battle against climate change, higher emissions reduction commitments are absolutely necessary.

The United States is one of the highest emitters of carbon dioxide in the world; however the effects of climate change are ever-present in developing countries that have very small emissions. The upcoming conference in Copenhagen will hopefully yield positive results, but it is critical for the U.S. to ratify and enforce any new treaty that is created. It is time for the United States to take responsibility for the damage it has done and commit to more significant reductions in emissions.