Global climate change is an immediate and important issue that must be addressed by all nations multi-laterally. The effects of climate change - rising temperatures and sea-levels, shrinking glaciers, changes in range and distribution of plants and animals, changing precipitation patterns, and more intense heat waves are likely to worsen if countries do not reduce their greenhouse gases. Climate change has contributed to a rising demand in critical resources and mass migration-both of which have caused social unrest and armed conflict. Some of these effects of climate change are being felt around the world, for example droughts have exacerbated conflicts and humanitarian disasters in Darfur and Somalia. Thus, the global challenge of climate change constitutes both a security and economic threat for the United States.

Averting the projected impacts of climate change requires a global effort, and a shift from an economy dependent on fossil fuel combustion to one powered by clean renewable energy. As one of the leading world economy and biggest producer of greenhouse gases, the U.S. must play a leadership role in tackling this global challenge and mitigate its effects on vulnerable populations. The current administration has initiated some policies and initiatives but they are still falling short of what is needed to address the disastrous consequences of climate change. Citizens for Global Solutions is committed in pushing the U.S. Congress and Government to support and lead the international effort to address the challenge of climate change.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change consists of 192 countries, including the United States and China. All parties meet once a year in a Conference of Parties to dicuss curbing greenhouse gas emissions and other issues relevant to climate change. Since the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol will end in 2012 the parties of the conference have been discussing a follow-up Climate Change Agreement. This past year the 15th Conference of the Parties(COP-15) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) was held in Copenhagen, Denmark.  The purpose of the conference was to agree on a binding agreement for long-term action after the Kyoto Protocol ends in 2012 but this was not achieved.

Offical Website of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark

"We need to reduce greenhouse emissions in line with what science requires. All countries must play a part, based on common but differentiated responsibilities."
~U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon

"As the world's per capita emitter, most vibrant economy,and technological leader, the United States must assert leadership to fight global warming both at home and abroad. By adopting an aggressive cap on domestic emissions the United States can begin to confront the problem while recapturing the moral authority to lead the world toward an effective and equitable solution."
~President Obama

"One of the greatest impediments to tackling far-reaching issues such as global climate change is our tendency to focus on the near-term costs of corrective action rather than the long-term costs of doing nothing."
~Ecology Global Network

"Over the next 20 years and more, certain pressures-population, energy, climate, economic, environmental-could combine with rapid cultural, social, and technological change to produce new sources of deprivation, rage, and instability."
~U.S. Secretary of Denfense Robert M. Gates

"Climate change poses a clear and present danger to the United States of America. But if we respond appropriately, I believe we will enhance our security, not simply by averting the worst climate change impacts, but by spurring a new energy revolution."
~Vice Admiral Lee F. Gunn, U.S. Navy(Ret.)

Watch this Quick Introduction to Climate Change