Small change from Obama

President Obama's best efforts before the UN special session on climate change couldn't disguise the lack of US commitment
Kate Sheppard
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 22 September 2009 18.20 BST

Barack Obama made a hard sell to the United Nations in New York today, seeking to assure other world leaders that the US is committed to action on climate – even as hopes of Congress passing new environmental laws this year grow increasingly dim. But Obama's message, despite taking a tough tack on rapidly developing nations like China and India, did little to put pressure on the US Congress to act.
"We understand the gravity of the climate threat. We are determined to act, and we will meet our responsibility to future generations," Obama told the gathered leaders, adding that he is "proud" of what the US has done so far this year.
"The United States has done more to promote clean energy and reduce carbon pollution in the last eight months than at any other time in our history," he said, noting the House of Representatives' passage of a climate bill, the investments in renewable energy and efficiency through the stimulus, the extension of tax credits for renewable energy, and the recent announcement of new emissions standards for cars sold in the US. He cited the recent drop in overall US emissions, which he said is "due in part" to what his administration has accomplished – although he didn't add that it's in large part due to the dismal economy.
The president acknowledged that leaders "did not come here today to celebrate progress," but rather, "came because there is so much more work to be done." But for all the qualification he offered for what the US has done so far, Obama did little to put pressure on the US Senate to deliver him new legislation to let him take a binding commitment on US greenhouse gas reductions with him to the Copenhagen summit in December. He praised the work of the Senate energy and natural resources committee on an energy bill, and said he will "look forward" to working with others in the Senate on legislation. But there were no landmarks in terms of what he needs to see in a bill, and no pressure to get him that legislation this fall.
Obama made only passing reference to what the US might be willing to commit to. He acknowledged the responsibility to provide financial and technical assistance to developing nations for clean energy technology and adaptation, but gave no specifics. He talked about the scientific imperatives to act, but offered no confirmation that the US would commit itself to using science-based emissions targets that reflect the scale of that challenge. The best he could offer: that nations should agree on "slashing our emissions to reach the targets we set for 2020 and our long-term goal for 2050."
While the administration's efforts on clean energy and efficiency thus far are notable, world leaders gathered at the summit know that there's no dice without a binding commitment from Congress. And with no binding US commitment, there's no binding global deal. Obama's best efforts could not disguise this reality. Many other leaders of developed nations were able to bring commitments: the European Union has committed to cuts of 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, and 30% if other developed nations follow suit. And Japan's new prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, came to today's summit touting his promise to cut Japan's emissions to 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, so long as others consent.
But Obama had much tougher words for rapidly-growing developing nations like China and India, calling on them to do their part as well". "They will need to commit to strong measures at home and agree to stand behind those commitments just as the developed nations must stand behind their own," Obama said. "We cannot meet this challenge unless all the largest emitters of greenhouse gas pollution act together."
He also cautioned against over-optimism, noting that leaders need to be "flexible and pragmatic" and should not let "the perfect to become the enemy of progress" on a new climate treaty. But with less than three months to go before the Copenhagen summit – "only 87 days left to succeed or to fail," as French president, Nicholas Sarkozy, put it – no one at the UN summit is overly optimistic. Obama's speech did little to boost anyone's hopes: "The journey is long. The journey is hard, and we don't have much time left to make that journey."