OPINION:THE United States is committed to achieving the strongest possible outcome at the UN climate conference in Copenhagen. To demonstrate both this commitment and our interest in seeing the global community meet this goal, President Obama will travel to Copenhagen to participate, writes
DANIEL M ROONEY
Copenhagen represents an important opportunity to work toward a global solution to climate change – more than 90 heads of state are expected to show for the conference. The world is watching.
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing our planet, and its impacts are already apparent. Sea levels are rising, oceans are becoming more acidic, storms are becoming more frequent and intense, glaciers and Arctic ice are disappearing, and water supplies are increasingly at risk. These changes threaten not only the environment, but also security and stability.
Climate change is a global challenge that demands a global solution. To this end, the US has joined others in seeking an international agreement through the UN negotiating process. We support a legally binding agreement, but world leaders have acknowledged that reaching one in the short time frame of Copenhagen is unlikely.
It is crucial that all countries, led by major economies, do what it takes to produce a strong, operational accord that will get us started right away and help build the institutions needed to combat climate change.
An agreement that all world leaders could stand behind would serve as a strong and concise commitment covering all of the major issues in the negotiations: mitigation, adaptation, financing and technology support; and transparency and accountability.
President Obama will lead the US in doing its part. We are doing more to meet this challenge than ever, by supporting domestic policies advancing clean energy, climate security, and economic recovery, and by vigorously international engagement.
The US is prepared to put on the table an emissions reduction target in the range of 17 per cent below 2005 levels in 2020, ultimately in line with domestic legislation. This target puts us on a pathway toward a 30 per cent reduction in 2025 and a 42 per cent reduction in 2030, in line with the president’s goal to reduce emissions 83 per cent by 2050.
But the US cannot solve the problem alone. Success will require action by all. To this end, all major economies will have to present mitigation plans in any new Copenhagen agreement.
Transparency is fundamental to any agreement – it gives countries confidence that others are carrying out commitments and allows the world to determine whether we are adequately reducing emissions. All major economies need to agree to a robust transparency regime in Copenhagen.
An agreement will only succeed if it complements and promotes sustainable development by moving the world toward a low-carbon economy. It must provide support for countries, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable, to help them reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. Ireland has a real opportunity to be a leader in the development of its renewable energy resources and in the production of cutting-edge technology to put these resources to use at home and abroad.
Copenhagen represents an opportunity to reach an accord that could start us down the path toward a legal agreement right away, and speed the transition to a low-carbon global economy. It is important that we seize it. The US stands ready to do our part, and we look to Ireland to do yours.
Daniel M Rooney is the US ambassador to Ireland