The United Nations Climate Change Conference is taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark December 7- 18. What are some of the major implications we can expect following this landmark meeting? How do you anticipate the outcomes to impact business and consumers behavior? What do you want to see come out of these meetings?
Posts Tagged ‘United Nations’
Posted on : December 7th, 2009 | By : Janet Dean | In : UN Climate Change Conference
Regretfully, I don’t expect much to come from COP15 (The United Nations Climate Change Conference). In order to sway other emissions-heavy nations like China, the United States needs to commit to some major changes in our carbon emission goals and I don’t believe the Kerry-Boxer Senate bill is going to allow for that—the United States is far too committed to industry and the economy and anything that disturbs the status quo too much or threatens future campaign support is not likely to pass. Of course, bi-partisan backers of the bill in insist they can agree on terms now that will pass in February 2010, thus enabling U.S. negotiators some guidelines to work with at COP15, but I’m not convinced.
Regarding the impact of the outcome on business and consumer behavior, I don’t think there will be an impact for some time. The wheels of progress on something this huge will move very slowly, I predict. Of course, both businesses and consumers will eventually have to adapt to certain changes that I can’t predict but my hope is that there will be major developments in carbon reduction-oriented industries that will boost the economy and create new jobs to the degree that consumers won’t be adversely affected.
Posted on : December 7th, 2009 | By : Maureen O'Connor | In : UN Climate Change Conference
The upcoming U.N. Climate Change Conference provides the opportunity for the world to make a stand against global warming. Will a strong, meaningful agreement result from the conference? Doubtful. The problems facing the conference are both complex and many. The world’s economic woes only make the job of cutting fossil fuel emissions and slowing deforestation exponentially harder. Here in America, President Obama, who is slated to attend the conference, is prepared to propose that the U.S. commit to cutting carbon emissions by 17% by 2020. Republican opposition and will ride the recent right wing success in slowing healthcare reform, and stirring up its base to question global warming science and position any U.S. signing of a climate change treaty as an abdication of national sovereignty and a fast track to economic ruin. Expect a nasty fight.
Ratification of an actual treaty will probably be delayed until 2010. If the signing does take place at the upcoming talks, the immediate impact on business and consumers in developed nations will ramp-up over the next decade with an incremental increase in prices for consumers and regulation for businesses as the transition to a “greener” economy takes shape. Long-term cost savings on healthcare, energy and lifestyle will take a while to kick-in, but ultimately may be far-reaching. Developing nations will benefit from a tremendous influx of aid and technology to motivate their embrace of “going green” at the expense (through carbon offset credits and direct financial aid) of major greenhouse gas emitters like the U.S., China and Europe.
The upcoming Climate Treaty that will replace the Kyoto Protocol will probably bear the signature of President Obama and a long list of other major developed and developing nations – but probably not China and India – a major drawback. The treaty can be expected to set targets seeking a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, a number that will not satisfy hardcore global warming reductionists and will enrage global warming naysayers. If the global economy shows improvement in the next twelve months the treaty has a real chance; if the global recession continues or deepens, climate change legislation and treaties may fall victim to more pressing day-to-day economic concerns.
