Obama Announces Non-Binding Climate Agreement In Copenhagen

President Barack Obama announced a non-binding international agreement from the Copenhagen Climate Conference Friday that will ask individual countries to list their respective commitments against climate change in a transparent manner.

“For the first time in history, all major economies have come together to accept their responsibility to take action to confront the threat of climate change,” Obama said during a press conference.

The president acknowledged that ultimately landing on a binding agreement would be difficult, but seemed to play down such an agreement's importance.

“Kyoto was legally binding and everybody still fell short anyways,” the president joked.

Senate Republicans Wary Of Possible Climate Change Pledge In Copenhagen

Meagan Wiseley - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

While President Barack Obama is taking the Environmental Protection Agency's ruling of the dangers and the toxicity of CO2 emissions and greenhouse gasses (GHGs) to Copenhagen climate change conference, Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) told reporters Thursday that the Senate must ratify any proposed climate change pledge that President Barack Obama will make during his visit.

“Any action that would be binding on the U.S., in the form of an international agreement, will of course have to be ratified by the U.S. Senate,” Kyl said at a press conference Thursday.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) spoke out against the possibility of the EPA and President Obama making any law on CO2 emissions or climate change.

“We’re not going to allow the Executive Branch or the Environmental Protection Agency, through the Clean Air Act or any other act, appropriate themselves the power to make laws to govern the people of the U.S.,” Graham said.

Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she will file a resolution of disapproval in hopes of stopping the EPA from regulating GHGs.

Boxer: America Is Taking Action On Climate Change

Travis Martinez, University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

As leaders from across the world converge in Copenhagen for climate change talks, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) a lead proponent in climate change, explained Monday that America has been making changes that the rest of the world should follow.

“Take a look at America, because what you see, will please you,” Boxer said.

Boxer stressed in her remarks that America has stepped up their efforts from the state and local government fronts, to consumer and private sectors.

“A [California] 2006 law requires action to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020... The California Air Resources Board produced its first cap-and-trade blueprint,” said Boxer. “The actions by states are powerful evidence that our states are committed to participating in the clean energy transformation."

She also spoke on recent actions by the Obama Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency who released findings that confirmed global warming presents a danger to people and the environment.

"The Clean Air Act provides EPA with powerful tools for addressing greenhouse gases, and the Supreme Court found it is their responsibility," Boxer said. “The Obama Administration has done the right thing for the nation, for the planet and if you listen to our business community for the economy."

Boxer said she is deeply concerned that “Personal” events on climate change could “Get in the way of science”. She explained that nothing from the stolen emails in the “Climate Gate” saga has contradicted the overwhelming science.

“The science is clear, the challenge is real, and the time to act is now... Our nation will be a full participant in crafting a global solution to this global challenge,” Boxer said.

Minor Issues Need Sorting As Copenhagen Prepares For Obama

Climate negotiators in Copenhagen are dealing with a couple of key issues in the final days before numerous world leaders descend on Denmark.

According to Union of Concerned Scientists official Alden Meyer, a “mini-scandal” involving a heavily guarded draft text that was leaked to the press earlier this week is causing representatives of some of the poorer nations in attendance to question larger nations’ willingness to strike a fair deal.

The document, known as the “Danish Text,” would allow rich countries to dictate the distribution of billions of dollars that would be provided to smaller nations as part of a global agreement on curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

“It caused quite a furor here and concerns among some of the developing countries about transparency and participation in the process,” said Meyer, who is one of several experts affiliated with the U.S. Climate Action Network in Copenhagen.

Another tricky equation being looked at by negotiators is how to convince developing nations to reduce their emissions without inhibiting growth.

“The issue of how to reflect [that] in any new treaty or instrument, how to verify what countries are doing on the ground and most importantly, how to raise both the short-term and long-term revenue needed to help countries bend their emissions curve as they continue to develop will be a big issue,” said Meyer.

According to Meyer, all eyes will be on President Barack Obama when he arrives at the conference next week. There, Obama is expected to announce a commitment by the U.S. to cut emissions by 17% over the next decade.

Obama May Disappoint At Copenhagen

Travis Martinez-University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

As the climate change summit in Copenhagen looms, analysts believe Obama’s efforts may end in disappointment.

Following Congress’ failure to finalize climate change legislation, it appears that the president will be showing up empty handed.

“My grandmother used to say ‘whenever you visit someone you shouldn’t come empty handed.’ As the American delegation heads to Copenhagen, they don’t have the legislation that they wanted or regulations towards some step of climate regulation,” said Ben Lieberman, Senior Policy Analyst with the Heritage Foundation, during a panel discussion at the National Press Club. “This time, the strategy was to get much more done domestically and then go to Copenhagen to make it international. As we know the bill has stalled in the Senate and it faces an uncertain future.”

Lieberman added that the formation of a significant treaty at the Summit is also unlikely.

“China and other fast developing nations, mainly China, don’t want binding and verifiable targets. The U.S. and other nations from the developed World have already come to the realization that emissions growth from these nations is growing so fast that exempting them would make a treaty almost pointless,” said Lieberman.

Lieberman called an EPA announcement earlier today declaring carbon dioxide a pollutant a “consolation prize” and “first stage of regulation beyond getting legislation.”