Laying the Table for Climate Negotiations
Leading up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, there’s much speculation about the roles that both the United States and China will play on the world stage. China and the US together account for 40 percent of greenhouse gases. The goal of the conference is to reach an international agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. It would replace the UN’s Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. Without participation by the world’s two largest CO2 emitters, the treaty is unlikely to succeed.
It appears that the US and China are moving closer together.
On October 22, President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao spoke on the phone and agreed to “strive to have a successful conference.” Both expressed determination to tackle the issue. At a recent US-China clean energy forum, Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said that “the Chinese side is ready to strengthen consultation and communication with all the parties, including the American side.”
This comes just two days before the international Climate Day of Action with citizen participation from over 175 nations. Citizens are joining together to “stand for a safe climate future.” They’re also demonstrating to conference attendees that now is the time to act on climate change. One group of attendees is trying to spread the word itself.
Government leaders from the Republic of the Maldives — the smallest country in Asia and one that sits on average only about 5 feet above sea level — held a special meeting last weekend. President Mohammed Nasheed and 13 cabinet members met 20 feet under water to sign a document calling for all countries to cut carbon emissions. Watch the underwater cabinet meeting in action.
Back in March, President Nasheed pledged that the Maldives would be carbon neutral by 2020. According to an article in the Guardian newspaper, the plan includes new renewable electricity generation and transmission infrastructure, rooftop solar panels, a biomass plant burning coconut husks, and battery banks to provide back-up storage.
Similar to the lone polar bear on a melting ice floe, residents of Malé, the capital of the Maldives, may soon find themselves on the cover of Time Magazine, as climate refugees. Let’s hope that the US and China demonstrate leadership in Copenhagen.
Malé, the capital of the Maldives
