A timely U-turn for planet Earth

European leaders were driving force

The landmark climate deal announced at the Copenhagen Climate Summit shows that the nations of the world can cooperate to deal with the harrowing threat of global warming.  And the crucial role played by European leaders in breaking the deadlock, reviving the faltering international negotiations and helping to bring the U.S. back into the climate fold, should not be overlooked.

As far back as 2006 Nicholas Stern, former chief economist of the World Bank, had warned that global warming would have social and economic costs on a scale “similar to those associated with the great wars and the economic depression of the first half of the 20th century.” It was clear at that time that “failure to act now will exact much greater penalties later on.” (“Avoiding Calamity On the Cheap,” NYT, Nov 3, 2006).
The E.U. got the message but in 2008, European leaders pledged to make unilateral cuts in emissions although the scale of their ambition was still not in line with science. In 2008, they set these cuts into law. In 2009, President Obama slowly began to engage with the international community. On a rainy day in Brussels in June this year came the crucial turning point.

At the European Heads of State meeting six months ago, E.U. leaders threw down the proverbial gauntlet by agreeing to contribute $50 billion for climate protection measures in developing countries and they urged U.S. President Barack Obama to follow their lead.

With the support of European leaders, President Obama pushed Congress to rethink the Waxman bill, the original version of which set weak emissions reductions targets, far below what scientists say is necessary to avert runaway climate change. In a few short weeks an amended version of the bill was passed. This tough new law puts the U.S. in line with Europe and climate science.

Now, with a strong climate deal agreed in Copenhagen which includes emissions caps for developed countries, financial mechanisms to help protect the world’s remaining forests, and support for climate action in the developing world, the U.S. has re-joined the international community, righting the wrongs of the previous administration. World leaders have finally shown the vision that is necessary to give our planet a fighting chance of turning back from the brink of climate change.