To put it mildly, I'm very frustrated about where we're at right now in terms of dealing with climate change. This is one of the greatest challenges - and also one of the greatest opportunities (to jump start a clean energy revolution) - in human history, and right now we're far from living up to the challenge. To get an example of the utter idiocy out there, watch this. It's mindboggling and infuriating, a massive and well-funded propaganda campaign to distort and deny the voluminous science behind anthropogenic global warming. And, unfortunately, it's having some affect on public opinion, although as Adam Siegel points out, "the vast majority of Americans adhere themselves to the basic facts that the globe is warming and that we have a responsibility to do something about it" (as usual, Republicans are the "know nothings"). Meanwhile, international negotiations that were supposed to culminate in a binding global warming treaty at next month’s summit in Copenhagen appear to have fallen far short, with apparent agreement on a "two-step approach to negotiating a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol" -- essentially, an agreement to reach an agreement. Ugh. Back here in the United States, the Senate remains bogged down trying to pass (also crucial) health care reform legislation and still hasn't acted to slash U.S. carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gas emissions. This isn't just a failure to confront global warming, of course, but a huge mistake in terms of our economy and national security, both of which would be greatly strengthened by putting a price on carbon and watching the green jobs/clean tech revolution explode. Instead, while we dither, our competitors - China, India, Germany, etc. - are racing ahead of us, threatening to grab hold of the big emerging market of the 21st century, and also leaving us at a competitive disadvantage as we attempt to power our economy using 19th and early 20th century energy technologies. Brilliant!
Anyway, it's in that context that I say I'm glad President Obama will attend climate talks in Copenhagen (and also will set a U.S. emission target). However, I also strongly agree with the World Wildlife Fund, which says, "It's important that his words during this important moment convey that the United States intends to make climate change a legislative priority, not simply a rhetorical one." Even more importantly, "To make good on any promises made in Copenhagen, the President should put the full weight of the White House behind Senate passage of a climate bill in the first part of 2010."
Now, I realize President Obama has a lot on his plate, in large part the mess bequeathed to him by 8 years of Republican misrule. And I realize that our Congress, with a few exceptions like Tom Perriello, is filled with know-nothings, industry shills, and cowards. Still, the fact remains: despite a massive, industry-funded global warming denial/"skepticism" propaganda out there, and despite the huge flaws in our political system which make it almost impossible to get "big things" done in this country anymore, we either must tackle global warming or suffer the (very grave) consequences (economic, national security and environmental) of failing to do so. I urge President Obama to use his speech in Copenhagen to make all this crystal clear, and most importantly to pledge that he will "put the full weight of the White House behind Senate passage of a climate bill in the first part of 2010." Oh, and that had better be a serious climate bill, not a watered-down pile of muck that lets polluters off the hook, while failing to solve the problem or grab the huge opportunity by the horns. Yeah, I know, keep dreaming...
