Posted on 12/15/2007 9:22:53 AM PST by TheEaglehasLanded
NUSA DUA, Indonesia (AFP) — World climate negotiators set a 2009 deadline Saturday for a landmark treaty to fight global warming after two weeks of intense haggling led to a climbdown by an isolated United States.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who flew to the Indonesian island of Bali for a late appeal for flexibility, praised the deal as a "pivotal first step" to confront climate change, "the defining challenge of our time."
Following gruelling all-night talks, the conference of 190 nations finally launched a process to negotiate a new treaty for when the UN Kyoto Protocol's commitments expire in 2012.
It comes after a year of stark warnings from Nobel-winning scientists, who say millions of people will be at risk of hunger, homelessness and disease by 2100 if temperatures keep rising at current rates.
The United States, the only major industrialised nation to reject the Kyoto treaty, reached a compromise with the European Union to avoid mentioning any figures as a target for slashing greenhouse gas emissions.
The deal instead only makes an indirect reference to scientists' warnings that the world must sharply cut back its emissions to prevent what could be a catastrophic rise in temperatures.
But after the summit went into an unscheduled 13th day of talks, the United States said it would not accept the statement as it wanted developing countries such as fast-growing China to make tougher commitments.
The senior US negotiator, Paula Dobriansky, said she had heard "many strong statements from many major developing country leaders on a greater role in helping to address urgently this global problem."
It "doesn't seem it's going to be reflected in our outcome here in the declaration," she said, explaining why the United States would reject the draft.
Dobriansky was loudly booed by other delegations, and a US environmental activist representing Papua New Guinea said to rousing cheers: "If you're not willing to lead, please get out of the way."
After repeated verbal lashings, Dobriansky again took the microphone and said that Washington would "go forward and join consensus," to the cheers of the conference.
German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel, a strong critic of US President George W. Bush's climate policy, said he was ready to ask through his mobile telephone for Chancellor Angela Merkel to intervene with the White House.
"I had already typed the SMS after Dobriansky's first statement but then I was able to cancel it," Gabriel said.
"In the end, nobody wanted to have a failure," including the United States, Gabriel said.
"We have achieved more than we could have expected previously, but it is less than what is needed to meet the urgency of the problem."
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called the agreement "a vital step forward for the whole world". He added: "I am delighted that after two weeks of intensive talks the world's nations have agreed on a Roadmap to achieving a new global framework for tackling climate change. The Bali Roadmap is just the first step."
And German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the Roadmap "opens the way to real negotiations on effective measures to protect the climate, and for binding targets" on reducing CO2 emissions.
"Of course, the road to an agreement to succeed Kyoto is still paved with obstacles," she said, adding that she was "convinced" that Bali will bring real progress.
"The joint stance of the Europeans was an important foundation for this good result. Without it, success at Bali would not have been possible."
The agreement came after extraordinary scenes in which UN chief Ban jetted in for a last-ditch appeal, the UN's exhausted climate chief nearly broke down in tears and conference chair Indonesia apologised for a disastrous procedural mix-up.
"What we witnessed today was an incredible drama," said Alden Meyer of the US-based Union of Concerned Scientists.
"I've been following these negotiations for 20 years and I've never seen anything like it."
Yvo de Boer, head of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, said the deal showed global commitment and broke down the divide between countries with Kyoto obligations and those without.
"In that sense, what we're seeing disappear here today is what I would call the Berlin Wall of climate change," he said.
Hans Verolme of conservation group WWF accused the world of bowing to US pressure and removing a scientific punch needed to fight global warming.
But he also said the Bali talks would inspire environmentalists and activist nations until the end of Bush's mandate in January 2009.
"We have learned a historic lesson. If you expose to the world the dealings of the United States, they will ultimately back down."
Bush has argued that Kyoto is unfair as it does not require fast-growing emerging economies such as China, the second largest emitter after the United States, to meet targeted emissions curbs.
Bush and his Administration will cave when pressured or booed, that's been the problem since 2001. It looked like he was starting to stand up this year, but it was too good to last
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
“Global warming” hoax BUMP!
(Remember, it is a mistake to believe ANYTHING published by AFP.)
Bush passed the buck on this one. Not surprised.
After repeated verbal lashings, Dobriansky again took the microphone and said that Washington would "go forward and join consensus," to the cheers of the conference.
The United States is changing its stated policies based on some boos and jeers from a crowd?
I wish we could have sent a representative with some spine.
Why even give them anything, this is President Bush’s problem. When he has victory he gives part or all of it away because. He could have been a much better President if not for this we have to compromise b.s.
The explosion of greenhouse emissions in China, India and other developing countries potentially could negate cutbacks in the developed world.”
_______________
We’ll end up footing the bill, as we always do.
Gutless leaders.
He did not back down at all, he simply told them deal with it when he is not President anymore. In fact all his years in office he never submitted to any treaty regarding global warming.
Yep — Bush has been courageous on WoT but that’s it for some reason. On other issues he has been a political coward OR has bought into the koolaid - take your pick.
Bush the Nutty Globalist backs down again.
Hopefully the next President will have more pro-America values
Excuse me .. I didn’t see BUSH at the conference - and it’s the liberal state dept who has caved .. not Bush.
It’s not the first time this state dept has gone contrary to the President’s stated policy.
Has everybody had enough of Condi’s policies now ..??
If one of the Democrats or Rudy, Romney, Huckabee, or McCain is elected President, we'll have a global suicide pact in no time.
You would think at least one person could go to that conference and challenge the very notion of man-made global warming and the premise itself that we need to do anything at all. Where is the antidote to Al Gore? Where is this person?
Michael Crichton has been vocal, but he obviously doesn’t get the same amount of press.
I don’t agree on the WoT. When history is written and Iran and AQ have the bomb, it will be said that Bush caved there too. It’s happening before our eyes and there is precious little we can do about it.
Did anybody even READ the article? It has got JACK to do with Bush and basically the U.S. committed to NOTHING.
Good Lord, take your conspiratorial, nonsensical rantings back to DU where they belong.
The brainpower and reading comprehension on this forum is all but gone. It would be laughable if it weren’t so freakin sad.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.