International Climate Change Negotiation
On 24 January the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held a hearing regarding “International Climate Change Negotiation: Bali and the path toward a post-2012 climate treaty” to discuss the future global climate treaty that will replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. Panelists included the Honorable James L. Connaughton, Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality for the office of the President and Mr. Elliot Diringer, Director of International Strategies at the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, along with leaders from conservation and business organizations.
Most panelists and Members emphasized the following key points as necessary for successful mitigation and adaptation to climate change. While opinions still differ wildly about how to best decrease emissions in the U.S. and around the world (increased funding for technology or carbon cap-and-trade programs, etc.), all panelists stated that climate change is absolutely a global problem and needs a global response. Binding, not voluntary, emissions limits in the U.S. are necessary to stop major climate and economic problems around the world, and the U.S. must take a leading role in climate change policy before other countries will follow. The U.S. and other developed nations also need to provide aid to developing countries so those countries can pollute less without losing out economically. All panelists noted that any policy solution that will work needs to be flexible and multi-faceted to include policy regarding adaptation, technology, funding, and other issues.
However, Connaughton, representing his office in the Executive branch, asserted that the Administration has been responding well to the problem of climate change and passing effective climate change policies, but these policies have not been labeled with the words “climate change” in the title (i.e., cleaner coal, FUEL standards). Connaughton also stated that the Administration holds the same belief as the majority of Congress that climate change is a serious issue, but do not want to pass any legislation that will increase taxes. Connaughton’s testimony caused a heated debate with Senator John Kerry (D-MA), who was a guest on the Committee and said Connaughton was wrong and the Administration has not been doing enough to mitigate climate change. While many leaders in Congress and businesses across the U.S. feel that extensive climate change policies need to be enacted quickly, it will take a flexible plan with support from both parties to pass into law.
Additional information, including archived video of the hearing and written testimony of the panelists and some Members, is available at: http://foreign.senate.gov/hearings/2008/hrg080124p.html.
