Editorials

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Editorial - To end the quarrelling on GHGs

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 05/25/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

111In fact, the Copenhagen conference is neither of those things -- if it fails, the world will keep trying -- but it is important and it is an opportunity to adopt a global strategy that would reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are humanity's major contribution to climate change. Since there is nothing that can be done to alleviate natural causes of global warming, agreeing on that global strategy becomes all the more urgent.

Until recently, however, the Copenhagen conference also seemed hopeless. Not only was there no consensus among the industrialized countries about the goals that should be set, undeveloped countries bridled at even the suggestion that they should arrest their industrial progress by any degree to further the cause. The single greatest object in the path of an agreement, however, was the refusal of the United States and China -- which together produce about 40 per cent of world's greenhouse gases -- to agree to any binding targets.

There are indications, however (see Gwynne Dyer's article elsewhere on this page) that that is about to change and that it might change before December. The U.S. and China have been involved in secret negotiations towards an agreement on climate which, if it can be fine-tuned to the point that it is ready to be signed next autumn, as both sides seem to hope, it will put an entirely new blueprint for a global-warming deal before the delegates in Copenhagen.

The negotiations began under the previous George W. Bush administration -- giving the lie to the accusation that Mr. Bush was indifferent to the issue -- and involved both Republicans and Democrats, so that new U.S. President Barack Obama was able to step in fully informed.

Briefly, the deal is reported to involve a 20 per cent cut in carbon emissions by 2010; co-operation on new technology on carbon capture and storage and fuel efficiency for cars; and both nations signing on to a deal in Copenhagen.

With the two major, critical holdouts on side, albeit, largely on their own terms, it seems, it should be obvious to all the delegates which way the wind will blow at the December climate conference. Goals and methods to combat global warming will still be disputed among many nations, just as they are now. But it will be difficult for emerging industrial giants such as India and Brazil to continue arguing with any conviction that they should remain exempt from any agreement mandating reductions in greenhouse gas emissions when China, which was also exempt, has willingly come to the table.

It will be harder for undeveloped nations to argue that they should continue to be able to pollute their way to prosperity and the Europeans will have lost, not just their favourite whipping boy in the U.S., but perhaps their leadership role in the green movement as well. And Canada will have a model that it might well, at long last, emulate.

There will be quibbles and quarrels -- not enough, too much, not me -- but if this Chinese-American agreement goes through, the world will have a chance in Copenhagen to end the quarrelling about climate change and finally get on with the job of doing something about it.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 25, 2009 A10

(You must be logged in to post your reaction)

Your reaction?

More Editorials

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.