Climate Change: The Top 10 Players

Consider the phrase ‘climate change.’ It’s up there with ‘war’ and ‘recession’ on the international news agenda today and quite rightly so. As we face 2010, the 16 Conference of Parties (COP) to be held in Mexico in December seems a long way away. However the event’s movers and shakers who come into play during 2010 will almost certainly shape the vital goings-on in 11 months’ time.

Today, IRJ looks at the events of COP15 in Copenhagen, the cult of celebrity, the big business brains and the science behind the headlines to bring you our Top Ten Climate Change Hit List. Some are integral to COP15; some are fighting and ready to make big business out of the current climate change agenda; and some have dedicated their professional lives to bringing about a worldwide effort to combat global warming, reduction of carbon emissions and to tackle our dependency on fossil fuels. Ultimately, you decide as we cast our eyes over the climate change voices of 2009 and predict the names we will be seeing a lot more of this throughout the coming year.

no 1
Yvo de Boer
Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Climate career history

Boer, a 55 year-old Dutch national, was appointed Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on August 10, 2006.

Boer has a long-standing history in major climate roles dating back to 1994. He assisted the European Union in preparing for the Kyoto Protocol negotiations, helped to design internal burden sharing of the Euro­pean Union and has spearheaded UNFCCC delega­tions since that point.
He has previously acted as the Deputy Director-General for Environmental Protection, Head of the Climate Change Department and the Director for In­ternational Affairs in the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment of the Netherlands.

Commitment to Climate Change Today

On November 6, 2009, prior to COP15, Boer spoke to the international news media in Barcelona. He said that a global climate treaty would not be ready in time for the December conference, but it could be finished within 2010.

“What we will need after Copenhagen is a little time,” he said.

“I don’t know how much time to turn that opera­tional language into a treaty, if that is what govern­ments decide.”

However, his comments on the upcoming COP15 were not negative and he said that the conference could still mark a “turning point,” for the climate change deal.

On the eve of COP 15, Boer told press that, despite the hefty price tag of global warming, the world’s leading economies need to provide $30 billion in fast-tracked funds to enable the world’s develop­ing countries to tackle climate change and ease their carbon emissions.

“In India, there are 400 million people without electricity. How do you switch off the light bulb that you don’t have?” he later asked the conference.

Boer has outwardly expressed praise and sup­port for the United States stance in the recent world climate change deals at the COP15. His response has garnered mixed reviews, with some comment­ing that he lacks ambition for a common deal to be reached. Some argue that he is a realist, whereas some see him as taking a pessimistic and under-supportive viewpoint.

“We must be honest about what we have got. The world walks away from Copenhagen with a deal. But clearly ambitions to reduce emissions must be raised significantly if we are to hold the world to two degrees,” Boer told attendees at COP15.

After COP15, Boer declared that the drafted global warming accord was “impressive,” but he also emphasised it is “not an accord that is legally bind­ing,” nor one that “pins down industrialized countries to targets.”

The Year Ahead

Reports following the events of COP15 focus on Boer’s hopes for clarity in climate change agree­ments. He warned that “all this finger pointing and recrimination” could stand in the way of progress.

“We need to work together constructively. Coun­tries are in the media blaming each other for what happened, the same countries that are going to have to be back at the negotiating table next year with an open willingness to work together,” he told the Associ­ated Foreign Press (AFP).

During this interview, he indicated that the UNFC­CC would meet in early 2010 to look at whether more meetings would be needed within the coming year. He said that COP15 was “a very extraordinary event,” and again emphasised that while a group of countries meeting, discussing and proposing a deal might be helpful, it takes time to assimilate a process which is “inclusive, representative and transparent.”

no 2
Doctor Kevin Conrad
Special Envoy on Climate Change, Papua New Guinea

Climate career history

Born in Papua New Guinea, in 1968, 41-year-old Harvard graduate Conrad is also the executive direc­tor of the Coalition for Rainforest Nations. He is widely credited with pioneering the UNFCCC scheme for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developing countries (REDD) and the United Nations UN-REDD scheme. He has also aided in establishing the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Part­nership Facility.

At the UN Climate Conference in Bali, December 2007, Conrad told the United States that “if, for some reason, you’re not willing to lead, leave it to the rest of us, please, get out of the way!“ As a result of this overtly-cited challenge, Conrad was viewed with high expectations for outspoken contributions and interest in the lead up to COP15.

In April 2009, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced its Champions of the Earth Awards in which Conrad was a winner along with Norwegian Environment Minister Erik Solheim, wind power visionary Tulsi Tanti and recycling pioneer Ron Gonen.

Commitment to Climate Change Today

On December 23, 2009, Conrad told press that the Copenhagen Accord reached at COP 15 could poten­tially benefit the REDD programme and the financial incentives it offers to those who work to protect and preserve the rainforests. This comment was reported despite stalling of planned REDD measures which were to be included within agreements.

“We spent a lot of time with the United States, and the United Kingdom and Germany trying to deter­mine exactly how much was needed over what time­frame. And we’ve negotiated about US$3.5 billion dollars to get started,” he said.

Conrad said that REDD discussions had been stalled, but in light of the accord funds would be in place to continue its work. However, he did not ex­actly applaud the accord, saying that REDD had been “punted back” for another year and deeming the situ­ation “depressing.”

Speaking about the final agreed accord at COP15, Conrad said “Papua New Guinea supports this document, even though it is flawed.”

He also criticised the Pacific countries, particu­larly Tuvalu, which rallied for a legally binding agree­ment at COP15, for hindering the negotiations. “There were many small island states that absolutely delayed negotiations. Tuvalu’s behaviour was absolutely outra­geous; we lost days and days and days for some idea that wasn’t even on the table, it wasn’t even realis­tic,” he told press.

The Year Ahead

It seems that Conrad’s challenge to the United States back in 2007 has earmarked him as an outspoken champion for the rainforest cause. In the wake of COP15, the news media reports that Conrad says PNG will push for a legal agreement in place of the accord to take place as soon as possible.

The REDD+ mechanism, which was to be in­cluded within a COP15 agreement, was viewed by many as a shining light in the negotiations, yet it was left on ice until such an agreement could be further developed to find a place for it. This leaves Conrad in a disappointing position; however his commitment to REDD remains strong, suggesting that the accolades and recognition he has received during the past year are not misplaced.

no 3
José Manuel Barroso
President of the European Commission

Climate career history

Barroso, a 53-year-old Portuguese politician, was elected the 11th President of the European Commis­sion on November 23, 2004. Prior to this, he served as Prime Minister of Portugal from April 6, 2002, until July 17, 2004.

Barroso has also acted as Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, which he was appointed to in 1985, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in 1987, and Minister of For­eign Affairs in 1992.

In 2009, the European People’s Party (EPP) put Barroso forward for a second term as President of the European Commission. On September 16, 2009 he was re-elected. One key issue which is present during his first term as President is defining an EU climate change package.

Commitment to Climate Change Today

On October 9, 2009, Barroso addressed the Global Editor’s Forum in Copenhagen (pre-COP15) and said that while understanding the “moral context” of the climate challenge is needed, it is not enough.

“My sense, from talking to people all over the world about this, is that they understand why we have to act and they want to hear about solutions. But those of us with political responsibility have not yet, collectively, convinced them that we have the neces­sary political will to deliver solutions in line with eco­nomic growth and sustainable development,” he told the crowd. “Green growth is not some environmental­ist pipe dream. We can do it, and in concrete terms, we are doing it now in Europe.”

On December 2, 2009, in Brussels, Barroso said that “bold decisions” from world leaders at Copenha­gen were needed to avoid the disastrous predictions made by scientists regarding climate change.

“The European Union has set the pace with our unilateral commitment to cut emissions 20 per cent by 2020 and our climate financing proposals for developing countries,” he said. “We will be ready to scale up our emission reduction to 30 per cent provided our partners in both the developed and the developing world take on their fair share of the global effort.”

In the wake of COP15, Barroso remained realistic in his approach to tackling the issue. “This accord is better than no accord, but clearly below our ambi­tion,” he told press of the accord reached in Copen­hagen. “We have to be honest.”

The Year Ahead

On January 15, at the end of the first week of hear­ings for future commissioners in front of the Europe­an Parliament, Satu Hassi, Finland’s Member for the European Parliament (MEP), said that Barroso must “prove that he created this position to protect the climate and not to grab headlines.”

Despite such finger-pointing, Barroso has already vouched that a transport and climate package will be a central priority of the next commission. “Let’s face it, it was not what we wanted,” Barroso said of the Copenhagen Accord on January 12, 2010. “We have to be honest. We did not fulfil our objectives.”

On January 8, 2010, Barroso said that the United Nations process for reaching that final goal of a climate change deal will need to be thought over before the summit in Mexico at the end of this year. “We need to think about how the UN process can be improved ahead of the next meeting in Mexico, and how we can reach more ambitious (targets) among our partners,” he told press.

no 4
Thomas Boone Pickens
Financier and Chairman of BP Capital Management

Climate career history

Pickens, 81, of Dallas, Texas, voted 117th-richest per­son in America by Forbes magazine, made his billions in the oil industry. He was instrumental in various large-scale acquisitions, including Mesa’s buyout of the Hugoton Production Company.

Pickens funded the BP Capital Management Fund, then the BP Energy fund, in 1997, with BP standing for ‘Boone Pickens.’

Pickens’ involvement with renewable energy and the climate change effort dates from June 2007, when he announced plans to construct the world’s largest wind farm by building turbines ca­pable of four gigawatt capacity in four of the Texas Panhandle counties.

By August 17, 2007, just three months later, Pickens announced that grid integration papers had been filed with the state of Texas and cited a project completion year of 2011.

In July 2008, Pickens announced his major green energy proposal, The Pickens Plan. This provides oil alternatives and focuses heavily on wind power and solar. The Pickens Plan makes reference to America’s reliance on imported foreign oil—a current focus for the Obama Administration—and aims for the nation to build and commercially realise its wind tunnel, which spans from Texas to the Canadian Border.

Commitment to Climate Change Today

Pickens presents a different facet to our hit list. Those who criticise the Pickens Plan point out that Pickens’ efforts for increased renewable energy utilization are in his own best interests because he has heavily invested in wind power. Many media reports distinguish Pick­ens from activists, scientists and those committed to research and “the cause.” The Pickens Plan has been referred to by members of the United States Senate, however critics make clear that this is not part of the, “conventional,” effort to tackle climate change.

Those flames were fanned in July 2009, when Pickens postponed his plans for the Texan wind farm owing to a lack of transmission line capacity. He as­sured the world press that the plans remain in place, and his company, the Mesa Power Group, states that the project will go ahead, albeit not at the pace origi­nally intended.

On January 15, media reports emerged claim­ing Pickens will reduce his wind power investments in order to pursue dealings in natural gas. The Dallas Morning News reports that Pickens will now purchase 300 turbines for his Texas wind farm, a drastic reduc­tion from his original planned total of 687.

The Year Ahead

Pickens makes our hit list because he represents dif­ferent factors that are vital for the future development of climate change efforts, and a desired worldwide agreement to replace the COP15 Accord.

Pickens reduced his plans for the Texas wind farm after the region’s lawmakers repealed a law, allowing him to access transmission lines in the way intended. Instead, he would be required to wait until regulated power lines were available to serve the farm at around 2013. As a result, these plans may have no longer been economically viable.

His approach is far more investor-focused and undeniably mirrors that of many businesses through­out the globe today. His mention of an oil indepen­dent America is also integral in considering the wider climate change fight. Pickens is often sought for his opinion on the oil markets and his success in this resource sector cannot be ignored.

no 5
Doctor James E Hansen
Head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City

Climate career history

Hansen, a 68-year-old Iowan is also an adjunct pro­fessor at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University.

In 1988, he addressed the United States Con­gress, presenting testimonials on his understanding of climate change. This address is hailed for contrib­uting to tentative understanding and profile-raising of global warming.

Prior to this, in 1981, a science publication mas­terminded by both Hansen and a team of scholars from the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies stressed that increases in carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere will bring about global warming at an increased pace. In 2000, he published a paper entitled, Global warming in the twenty-first century: an alternative scenario. This paper offers optimistic sug­gestions for tackling global warming and strategizes realistic ways to deal with fossil fuel dependency on a long-term scale.

In 1996, Hansen was elected to the National Academy of Sciences for his contribution to the works of radiative transfer models. In 2001, his efforts in the global warming field earned him the seventh Annual Heinz Award in the Environment. In 2006, he was counted amongst Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People.” Most recently, in 2009, Hansen received the Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal, the American Meteorological Society’s highest accolade, for varying aspects of his climate model and commu­nication of climate change issues.

Commitment to Climate Change Today

Hansen is no stranger to activism. He claims that NASA has attempted to review and alter his public statements on the climate change debate. On June 30, 2009, he was arrested in the high-profile protests against mountaintop coal mining in Raleigh County, West Virginia.

In an interview with Yes! Magazine following the Copenhagen COP15 conference, Hansen said that the proposals discussed were, “like the indulgences of the Middle Ages.”

“The sinners are the developed countries, which are responsible for most of the excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They want to continue busi­ness as usual, by buying off the developing countries.”

The Year Ahead

On January 12, an open letter written by Hansen to carbon traders accused them of, “choosing the path focused on corporate greed,” by opting for the cap-and-trade approach to reducing carbon emissions. In this letter, Hansen shows preference for the fee-and-dividend approach, which he labels, a “transparent, honest approach that benefits the public.”

Hansen writes that cap-and-trade works like a hidden tax because it, “increases the cost of energy for the public, as utilities and other industries pur­chase the right to pollute with one hand, adding it to fuel prices, while with the other hand they take back most of the permit revenues from the government. Costs and profits of the trading infrastructure are also added to the public’s energy bill.”

Hansen stresses the importance of educating the public to differentiate between these two carbon emission methods, saying that if this does not hap­pen, “the present administration may jam down the public’s throat just such an approach, which, it can be shown, is not a solution at all.”

Hansen’s focus on educating the public and the next generation continues.

no 6
Jairam Ramesh
Indian Minister of State for the Environment and Forests

Climate career history

Ramesh, a 55-year-old Karnataka-born politician, has been a member of the Indian Parliament where he represents Andhra Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha (the Indian parliamentary Council of States), since 2004. Between 2006 and February 2009, Ramesh assumed the post of Minister of State for Commerce and Industry. He has been Indian Minister of State for Environment and Forests since May 29, 2009.

When he took over the post, Manmohan Singh, India’s Prime Minister, had some words of wisdom for Ramesh. “India has not caused the problem of global warming. But try and make sure that India is part of the solution. Be constructive; be proactive,” the Prime Minister said.

“We are not going to compromise ecological security in the name of development,” Ramesh told onlookers at a wildlife conference in New Delhi on December 23, 2009.

Ramesh is praised for being the first Indian Envi­ronment Minister in almost 20 years to see his role as a vehicle for change and driving policy rather than a cash cow.

Commitment to Climate Change Today

In a letter to the Parliament of India, in October 2009, Ramesh set about denying speculation that India would try to use a climate change position to block reaching an agreement at Copenhagen.

“I think we are making rapid progress in altering the perception of India in international fora and the world at large without compromising our position. We need to take actions on climate change because it affects our people’s lives, and not because of any international pressure,” Ramesh wrote.

“We should clinch agreements on issues where there is already a substantial consensus—like forestry, adaptation finance, technology cooperation for mitiga­tion in energy and clean development mechanism.”

On December 22, Ramesh addressed the Rajya Sabha in a statement about the COP15 Copenhagen Accord. He said that there are “two specific outcomes to the Copenhagen Conference.” The first concerned the outcome of the Bali Action Plan of 2007. The sec­ond concerned Annex I countries and their commit­ment to the second period of the Kyoto Protocol.

“In this respect, India, South Africa, Brazil, China and other developing countries were entirely suc­cessful in ensuring that there was no violation of the mandate for the Bali Action Plan negotiations on the enhanced implementation of the UN Framework Con­vention on Climate Change,” Ramesh said.

“Despite relentless attempts made by the Annex I Parties, the Conference succeeded in continuing the negotiations under the Kyoto Protocol to establish the commitments of the Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol for the post-2012 period.”

The Year Ahead

In this same speech to the Rajya Sabha in 2009, Ramesh said that India must concentrate on “cutting our emissions intensity of GDP by 20-25 per cent by 2020 on 2005 levels, which is not only eminently feasible, but which can also be improved upon to the benefit of our own people.” He also highlighted a need for advanced scientific capacity to understand the ways that climate change was affecting the coun­try’s economy and various regions.

In a January 12, 2010 published interview with the Business Standard, Ramesh said that India’s Planning Commission has established “an expert group on a low carbon economy.”

“We have started serious thinking on how to achieve 20-25 per cent reduction in emission inten­sity by 2020, on the 2005 level. Our preliminary work has suggested it is eminently feasible. Now we have to get into the nitty gritty—power, transport, buildings and agriculture.”

no 7
Erik Solheim
Norwegian Minister of the Environment and International Development

Climate career history

Solheim, a 54-year-old Norwegian politician from the Socialist Left Party, carries both titles of Minis­ter for the Environment and for International Devel­opment simultaneously.

He has served conscription in the Norwegian Air Force, worked within parliament for 11 years, and spent five years working in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs prior to his appointment as minister.

Solheim was voted one of the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Champions of the Earth in 2009.

Commitment to Climate Change Today

In October 2009, addressing South African Journal­ists in Norway, Solheim said that there needed to be “fresh money on the table at Copenhagen for technol­ogy transfer and adaptation schemes.”

On November 27, 2009, Solheim visited Mr. Zhou Shengxian, the Chinese Minister of Environment, in Beijing. This visit was aimed at gauging Chinese insights into their action plan for emissions reduction and to talk about upcoming COP15.

Prior to COP15, Solheim made clear his pessi­mistic outlook on the talks. Like many of his peers, he sought to avoid heightening public perception on reaching an all-answers solution, within just three days. On December 17, 2009, with one day left to go at the conference, he reiterated this view to TerraViva, the news engine famed for its commitment to sustainabil­ity, independent journalism and reporting from COP15.

The Danish government asked Solheim to co-head the international shipping and aviation meeting at COP15 with Singapore’s Environment Minister, Dr. Yaacob Ibrahim. These talks focused on reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent; however, an agreement could not be reached.

Solheim said that the main problem was “to coordinate the fact that over 70 per cent of the in­ternational shipping fleet is registered in developing countries and the general principle of common but differentiated responsibility.”

During COP15, Norway and Mexico launched The Green Fund, aimed at securing funding for cli­mate change efforts in developing countries. From 2013, using public budgets and auctioned emis­sions budgets, a total of $10 billion per annum from 2013 is pledged.

“We think developing countries should have the option of choosing between the UN and the World Bank as administrators of this money, given that some of them want to work with the World Bank and others are reluctant to do so given their histories,” he said.

The Year Ahead

Norway is a big giver in terms of worldwide aid. To name but a few, in donating €1 billion to Brazil through the Amazon Fund, leading up to 2015, €30 million to Guyana for deforestation and most recently NOK40 million to the Haiti earthquake victims, it’s a recognised major donor.

Norway’s 2010 total donation to the United Na­tions Emergency Fund is NOK325 million.

In October 2009, prior to COP15, Norway said that December 2010 and COP16 were too far away, should the 2009 Copenhagen talks fail to deliver. Both Norway and Sweden, and later France in another capacity, declared themselves open to follow up talks in early 2010 dubbed “COP15.5.”

Solheim will make the opening speech at the Trondheim Conference on Biodiversity 2010 on Feb­ruary 1. He has had an increasingly high-profile, and overall supportive year. His UNEP award suggests big things, his political history and work as a peace negotiator suggests diplomacy and strong interna­tional relations. Norway’s aid commitments suggest an exemplary attitude to worldwide change.

no 8
Lisa P Jackson
Administrator for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Climate career history

Jackson, 47, a chemical engineer by background, is the 12th administrator for the EPA and was desig­nated to the post by U.S. President Barack Obama in December 2008. Following her designation, she received a unanimous vote of approval from the U.S. Senate in January 2009, and is the first person of African American descent to serve in the role.

“The American people have gained a tireless public servant and a tenacious guardian of the envi­ronment,” New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine said of her appointment. Jackson previously served as Chief of Staff for Corzine.

Jackson also previously acted as commissioner to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Pro­tection, during which time she was praised for bring­ing a more policy-driven approach to the department. Within her 33 months in this post, the state revealed plans to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2020, and 8 per cent by 2050.

Commitment to Climate Change Today

On December 7, 2009, the EPA, under Jackson, declared carbon dioxide to be a “public danger” in a move which many viewed as a side step from senates which refused to grant measures for cutting green­house gas emissions.

Jackson declared that climate change was now “a household issue.”

“This administration will not ignore science or the law any longer, nor will we ignore the responsibil­ity we owe to our children and our grandchildren,” she told press.

“These long-overdue findings cement 2009’s place in history as the year when the United States Government began addressing the challenge of greenhouse-gas pollution and seizing the opportunity of clean-energy reform,” she continued.

This announcement came as a response to a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that greenhouse gases fell within the Clean Air Act which defines air pollut­ants. This exemplifies media observations about the way in which the Obama administration has moved away from motions passed and initiatives thwarted under the Bush era.

The Year Ahead

On January 12, 2010, Jackson made a speech about taking future action on climate change.

“2009 saw historic progress in the fight against climate change, with a range of greenhouse gas reduc­tion initiatives. We must continue this critical effort and ensure compliance with the law,” she says, adding that everyone should continue to support the President, “in enacting clean energy and climate legislation.”

Jackson highlighted the key areas of improve­ment for 2010: air quality, assuring the safety of chemicals, cleaning up our communities, protecting America’s waters, expanding the conversation on en­vironmentalism and working for environmental justice and building strong state and tribal partnerships.

“These priorities will guide our work in 2010 and the years ahead. They are built around the challenges and opportunities inherent in our mission to protect human health and the environment for all Americans. We will carry out our mission by respecting our core values of science, transparency and the rule of law,” she says.

“I have unlimited confidence in the talent and spirit of our workforce, and I will look to your energy, ideas and passion in the days ahead. I know we will meet these challenges head on, as one EPA.”

no 9
Premier Wen Jiabao
Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China

Climate career history

Wen Jiabao, 67, is often dubbed “the people’s pre­mier,” by the world media on account of his perceived visibility in comparison to his predecessors.

Before becoming Premier in 2003, Wen Jiabao, a postgraduate geologist, worked in the Party General Office in Beijing between 1986 and 1993 and was promoted to Vice Premier under Zhu Rongji in 1998.

In 2003, Wen Jiabao became the first major Chinese political figure to publically address the AIDS crisis. From 2004, he has publically visited various communities devastated by both AIDS and the equally unspoken about drug addiction problems within some areas of China.

At COP15, an 11th-hour meeting, including U.S. President Barack Obama and Wen Jiabao, secured the non-binding emissions cuts Copenhagen Accord.

Commitment to Climate Change Today

On November 26, 2009, China pledged that it would use 40-45 per cent less carbon per unit of GDP by 2020, in comparison with figures for 2005. On No­vember 30, The European Union (EU) spoke out about China’s part in the future of climate change.

“We cannot solve the climate challenge to man­kind without China taking on leadership and respon­sibility,” Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Swedish Prime Minister and EU President said. “What does it mean when it’s compared to business-as-usual? What kind of mea­sures are being put into the Chinese economy to be able to deliver on these?” Reinfeldt said of China’s plans announced November 26.

“China places high importance on the upcoming Copenhagen conference,” Wen Jiabao replied, saying that China’s plans signify, “a major contribution to global efforts.”

The media has well-publicised Chinese reticence over the “transparent verification” of emissions reduction under the conditions to United States provision of $100 billion towards international funds leading up to 2020.

This non-negotiable detail would mean “all major nations,” became subject to outside monitoring and assessment of their emissions reduction achieve­ments. The media painted a precarious picture for China. Report indicated that the 11th-hour deal, set to greatly benefit the world’s poorest developing nations, was hanging in the balance should China refuse or accept this necessary transparency.  This requirement was eventually dropped and replaced with a request for nations to self-report progress.

On December 25, China defended Wen Jiabao’s actions at Copenhagen against critics who said that the zero stance stood in the way of negotiations. Bei­jing was reportedly furious after Ed Milliband, the UK Climate Secretary, accused the nation of “holding the world to ransom.”

The Year Ahead

On December 18, 2009, in his speech to COP15 at­tendees, Wen Jiabao said that in order to meet the challenge of climate change “it is with a sense of responsibility to the Chinese people and the whole mankind that the Chinese government has set the target for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions,” he told the crowd.

“We have not attached any condition to the target, nor have we linked it to the target of any other country. We will honour our word with real action.”

On January 14, 2010, it was announced that four of the world’s largest carbon emitters are scheduled to meet in New Delhi during the month. The nations, Brazil, South Africa, India and China are the “BASIC bloc of nations that helped broker a political accord at last month’s Copenhagen climate summit,” ac­cording to China Daily. This meeting comes ahead of the January 31 deadline for countries to submit their individual action plans in the climate change fight.

no 10
Barack Obama
President of the United States

Climate career history

A man who needs little introduction, 48-year-old Harvard Law graduate President Obama assumed office as the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009. Prior to this, he served as junior United States Senator in Illinois, from January 2005, and served three terms until he resigned on election to President in November 2008.

As President, Obama is a proponent of cap-and-trade carbon emission auctioning and has put in place a 10-year investment programme for new and green energy. His initiative behind this is to reduce the United States’ dependency on foreign oil importation, which, according to the U.S. Energy Information Ad­ministration figures, 2009, totals roughly 57 per cent.

Commitment to Climate Change Today

On January 26, 2009, Obama signed two presidential memorandums, which he deemed to be “a down pay­ment on a broader and sustained effort to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.” The second of these request­ed that the EPA reconsider a petition for more stringent motor vehicle greenhouse gas emissions than the federal government had allocated, which came from California.

That same day, Todd Stern was appointed the U.S.A’s Special Envoy for Climate Change. “Containing climate change will require nothing less than trans­forming the global economy from a high-carbon to a low-carbon energy base,” Stern announced. “Presi­dent Obama and Secretary Clinton have left no doubt that a new day is dawning in the U.S. approach to climate change and clean energy.”

In his speech at COP15 Obama called for, “Miti­gation. Transparency. And financing.”

“America is going to continue on this course of action to mitigate our emissions and to move towards a clean energy economy, no matter what happens here in Copenhagen,” he told attendees. “Mitigation. Transparency. Financing. It’s a clear formula.”

Reports following Obama’s appearance at COP15 in December that same year have been a mixed bag.  One factor which remains constant is the reported frictions between the U.S.A and China. Obama is quoted as saying that without outsider verification and transparency in recorded carbon emission reduc­tions, any agreement reached would be merely “emp­ty words on a page.” This remark has been assumed overall to be directed towards China.

On December 18, 2009, a U.S. official told Reu­ters that an accord had been reached eventually. “Today, following a multilateral meeting between President Obama, Premier Wen, Prime Minister Singh, and President Zuma a meaningful agreement was reached,” the official told press.
“This is not a perfect agreement, and no country would get everything that it wants,” Obama later told a session at the United Nations event. “But here is the bottom line: we can embrace this accord, take a substantial step forward, and continue to refine it and build upon its foundation.”

The Year Ahead

Regardless of the mixed reporting on Obama’s role at COP15, the President claims to remain committed to tackling climate change.

Obama’s federal budget for the Department of Energy in 2010 stands at US$26.3 billion plus US$38.7 billion from the Recovery Act. While it is substantially less than the US$33.9 billion projected spend in 2009, it is still a two billion cut above the three years previous. U.S. government officials in the Copenhagen aftermath told the media that a “robust effort” will be made to pass the cap-and-trade auction method through the Senate in 2010.

Passing cap and trade, spearheading a binging world agreement and reducing the U.S. dependency on foreign oil: 2010 could be a tell-all year for the Obama administration.

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