Obama Emerges From Climate Talks With Slender Pact And Bruised Stature

[Purveyor]

Barack Obama emerged from the chaotic final hours of the Copenhagen summit last night having salvaged an agreement for action on global warming – and his own reputation as a politician who can bridge the most challenging of political divides.

After 15 hours of negotiations, an exhausted looking Obama said he managed to secure a deal on climate change incorporating America's three main goals of emissions cuts, financial aid for the poorest countries, and a measure of accountability for emissions pledges from developing countries.

But he acknowledged the skimpy 2.5 page draft produced at the end of his effort was not the comprehensive agreement he had come to Copenhagen for.

"I think it is important that instead of setting up a bunch of goals that just end up not being met, that we get moving," he said. "We just keep moving forward."

Obama's hectic day of negotiations began immediately on his arrival in Copenhagen, when he encountered what he described as a "fundamental deadlock" between rich and developing countries.

Much of that was a product of the deep resentment at America for its emissions reductions target: a 17% reduction over 2005 levels by 2020. That offer too was conditional on Congress passing climate change legislation. In the final days of the summit, a more vexing issue emerged over America's demands that China and other rapidly emerging countries offer an accounting of their actions to curb the growth of greenhouse gas emissions.

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Guardian UK: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/19/barack-obama-copenhagen-climate-change-us

[FrenchieCat]

1. They say that about everywhere he goes.......

taking him down a notch makes themselves feel superior.
Shame that he's done more than any other American President
in his first 11 months than any other.

Yep.....a shame,
cause he was supposed to have parted the waters instead!

[IndianaGreen]

2. The Guardian is a liberal British newspaper

I don't think they care about American politics, they are merely reporting the news.

[gateley]

3. It's always interesting to get other countries' take on us. Thanks for posting! nt