U.S. President Barack Obama said he believes “this moment can be a turning point for the world”… And indeed, reaching any kind of consensus after months of preparation and weeks of exhausting talks can be cathartic. But the Paris agreement has parts that are specific and parts that are binding — never both at once.
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A Toothless Treaty Can’t Stop Climate Change
Posted December 14th, 2015 at 3:50 pm (UTC-5)
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#COP21: Paris Agreement a ‘Tremendous Victory for All of Our Citizens’
Posted December 14th, 2015 at 1:36 pm (UTC-5)
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“We are sending literally a critical message to the global marketplace,” Secretary Kerry noted. “Many of us here know that it won’t be governments that actually make the decision or find the product, the new technology, the saving grace of this challenge. It will be the genius of the American spirit.”
COP21: Turning Point or Empty Promises?
Posted December 14th, 2015 at 11:32 am (UTC-5)
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Nearly 200 nations signed the Paris accord to tackle climate change – but signing isn’t implementing, critics say. The deal sets out to commit signatories to reduce carbon emissions, but the targets are not legally binding. And that worries those who don’t trust big polluters, like China and India, to act. Even its most ardent supporters aren’t dismissing inherent flaws. Top US negotiator Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged this in an appearance on ABC News a day after the deal was announced Saturday. “I understand the criticisms of the agreement because it doesn’t have a mandatory scheme and it doesn’t have a compliance enforcement mechanism…. That’s true.” The other worry for detractors is that because the agreement is not a “treaty,” US congressional approval is not mandatory for ratification. Optimists point out that, while imperfect, the pact is a serious beginning, evidence that the world is no longer ignoring that which cannot be ignored.
President Hails Paris Agreement on Climate Change
Posted December 14th, 2015 at 8:01 am (UTC-5)
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“We came together around a strong agreement the world needed. We met the moment.”
Why Paris Climate Talks Matter
Posted December 2nd, 2015 at 9:50 am (UTC-5)
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Because the world has dawdled for so long, emissions reductions alone won’t be sufficient to deal with global warming. The response must also involve adaptation to a disrupted climate and the sort of major investments in clean-energy technologies…
2015 Paris Climate Conference: Another Bad Deal for America
Posted December 1st, 2015 at 11:06 am (UTC-5)
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…The EPA and other federal agencies are forcing accelerated reductions on U.S. industries to meet harsher COP21 targets. That makes energy more expensive and encourages manufacturers to relocate to China where environmental enforcement is lax.
President of Gabon: The Paris Agreement Is Just the Start of Africa’s Climate Quest
As we look to the future, we cannot improve our living standards while simultaneously degrading the natural environment around us. If we do, we will certainly face a similar climate migration, sparking a humanitarian crisis. Africa is going to have to walk a tightrope if we are to achieve sustainable growth.