On December 9, 2009 President Obama will visit the UNFCC conference in Copenhagen to pledge the US to 17% emissions reductions by 2020. His appearance will be brief, as he is scheduled to be in Olso the following day to receive his Nobel Peace Prize. The “stringency” of his 17% commitment is unknown, which is especially troublesome since the US climate legislation is stuck in the Senate. Last month the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee adopted a proposal to reduce emissions by 20% by 2020, but some Senators are already calling for reductions to this proposal.
So when can US citizens expect Congress to act on climate legislation? Some companies have already instituted new practices that they suspect will comply with the pending legislation, but as noted by Eileen Claussen, President of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change “Industry needs certainty, and without a very strong role played by the administration, they are not likely to get it.” She also suggested that “Real leadership from the White House is the only way to get a bill through the Senate, and a bill is how we will get certainty.”
So perhaps Obama’s brief trip to Copenhagen is a step in the right direction, but is that enough? Is it that his Administration is just too bogged down with problems in Afghanistan and the Congressional struggle over healthcare reform? Is that an excuse? Or are the citizens to blame for not putting enough pressure on our leaders (Congressional and Presidential) to take stronger action?
Unfortunately as of November 11, 2009 Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus told the Wall Street Journal that “It’s common understanding that climate-change legislation will not be brought up on the Senate floor and pass the Senate this year.” Is it possible that President Obama’s trip to Copenhagen will promote a new sense of urgency in Congress?
Only time will tell.
