Transnational Decision-Making is a Necessity, and the U.S. Can’t Do It
William Waack, a stalwart of commentary on the USA, writing in Portuguese for O Globo in Brazil, writes a particularly interesting piece, translated on Watching America.com, where he explains the necessity for nations to embrace decisions that will limit their own sovereignty. With reference to climate issues, in particular, he notes that 20 companies alone could bring about results that governments, largely frustrated by the American fear of competitive disadvantage, are having so much trouble doing.
His argument leads him to the huge claim that the 21st century will be the century of Europe, because it is Europe that has managed to implement an effective supra-national body that can make decisions before they are made in national capitals.
It is not much of a surprise when an American government interferes with negotiations to combat global warming. But what is happening in Bali, Indonesia, when 190 countries discuss what to do to counter greenhouse gas emissions is new even to the usual standards of American interference in international agreements: The delegation of the United States refuses to accept scientific data (prepared by a panel of experts from the UN) which it had welcomed two months ago.
The response of the Europeans was tough, and formulated in a bruising manner: if, this time, the White House impedes the Bali accord, the Europeans will not participate in the round of negotiations called the MEM (the “Major Economies Meeting” – a euphemism for the major polluters)
