As the climate Change Summit in Copenhagen draws ever closer, pessimism is growing over whether the biggest gas emitters will take action to stop what most scientists assure us will be a catastrophe. And in the minds of a majority if not most people outside the United States, it is our nation, even under Obama, that is the greatest stumbling block to progress.
So what’s to be done? According to Le Figaro’s chief editorial writer, Pierre Rousselin, the world must take advantage of Obama’s unprecedented election and pile on as much pressure as it can – to persuade Obama and America to match words with deeds.
For Le Figaro, Pierre Rousselin writes in part:
“With three months until the Copenhagen summit, the pressure is mounting. Despite the expectations Obama has raised, the United States may well be the major obstacle to a treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires at the end of 2012. … The American Senate is in no hurry to pass a bill to reduce CO2 emissions that was approved by the House of Representatives. The Republicans are united against it and the Democrats are badly divided. The fight against global warming is paying the price due to the backlog over health care reform. In the absence of a vote by Congress, Obama will find himself in Copenhagen without a mandate for negotiation. … The pressure has to rise further as the deadline to Copenhagen approaches. This turning point in the United States, so long-awaited, must be converted in terms of international commitments.”
EDITORIAL By Pierre Rousselin
Translated By Juliet Fox
September 24, 2009
France – Le Figaro – Original Article (French)
On climate change, as on everything else, Barack Obama is a formidable orator. At the U.N. on Tuesday, there was no better advocate in the fight against global warming. Once again, his argument was to emphasize the contrast with the preceding Administration. “I am proud to say that 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.” Certainly. But the world is waiting for action.
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