Copenhagen

The House takes the position that the Copenhagen Summit has failed. China begs to differ. The House takes this position because they have been seduced by the propaganda of the western media, constituting of the small vocal minority, in coming to the unreasonable expectation that 183 nations can come together in 3 days and agree on a legally binding document that includes:

        1. All nations recognize that carbon emissions reduction is a priority
        2. A set target of emission reduction
        3. detailed set of reduction targets by countries
        4. Four, Rich countries set up a fund to help poor countries achieve these targets
        5. Five, that penalties be set for failure to achieve these targets.

    • This, of course, did not happen in the Copenhagen. What happened was:

        1. One, all nations recognized that carbon emissions reduction is a priority
        2. Two, an achievable and reasonable reduction was agreed
        3. Three, this target was not a legally binding one. Critics immediately branded this as a failure. They fail to recognize that when country’s promise is not to be taken lightly either. (China has in fact agreed that it is time to take action. This is an important change as previously developed nations have not set any targets at all, so even self-imposed, non-binding ones are a step forward.)
        4. This outcome was exactly what Jose Manuel Barroso from the European Union has expected, that no full fledged binding deal would be inked in the Copenhagen. However there are still reasons to be hopeful as these are steps in the right direction.

        The Copenhagen is not the last chance to avert catastrophic climate change, which is why we should keep negotiating. News programmes and newspapers covered the issues in detail everyday during the run up to the conference.
        The coverage of the summit itself is a success – many more people recognize the problem and wish to do something to prevent... [continues]

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