Obama switches climate change visit to end of summit (after "progress" in negotiations)

BBC News ^ | 12/4/09 | BBC

[NormsRevenge]

US President Barack Obama has changed his plans to attend the UN summit on climate change in Copenhagen next week, the White House has announced.

He will arrive later than initially planned, moving his appearance from 9 December to 18 December.

The White House said he believed "that continued US leadership can be most productive through his participation at the end of the Copenhagen conference".

The summit aims to draw up a treaty to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

The president had changed his plans after talks with other leaders and after seeing "the progress that has already been made to give momentum to negotiations".

Climate fund support

US representatives will attend the Copenhagen summit throughout negotiations, the White House added.

It said the president believed recent progress included the emissions reduction target announced by the US; China and India setting targets for the first time to reduce their carbon intensity and moves by members of the Commonwealth.

The White House said the president had discussed the state of the negotiations with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

He concluded there appeared to be growing support for the suggested $10bn annual fund to help developing countries deal with climate change.

[hinckley buzzard]

Obama is hoping to be able to make a high profile fly-in, and deliver the appearance of heroically sealing a deal by his presence. It is up to the rational peoples of the world to derail this monstrosity.

[goodnesswins]

"Obama has gone chicken"

HA....OBOMBA has ALWAYS been a CHICKEN....he's starting to be a little more scared of the barnyard is all....

[True Republican Patriot]

Obozo knows this is going to turn into a real Cesspool!

[maine-iac7]

That means that the reporter probably knows who this is!

He was in insider who decided he couldn't go along anymore - and carefully collected the data. His identity was revealed yesterday = probably wise as he is otherwise liable to be found floating somewhere. I forget where I saw it - wish I'd saved it. But he's a very credible looking guy. Anyone else see it?

[Prodigal Son]

Obama’s team have no doubt told him to stall for time to see how the Climategate thing pans out so he can know which stance has best political outcome.

[JohnQ1]

He can’t simply sign away our sovereignty. The congress does have to ratify treaties with a two-thirds majority vote. What he can do is sign a “non-binding” pledge for the US to reduce our evil by so-and-so amount in such-and-such amount of time blah blah blah... and then offer to put up the first ten billion of the fund to help developing countries — which he just happens to have lying idle in a $787B “emergency stimulus fund” he managed to create late last year! He’s trying for a(nother) fait accompli. I vote we give him a “fate accomplished”!

[arthurus]

It gives him more time to decide whether to đuck it altogether.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Or AK-47’s

[for-q-clinton]

Man his base will be torn up if he doesn’t support this. I’ll get the popcorn.

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks!

[maine-iac7]

Man his base will be torn up if he doesn’t support this. I’ll get the popcorn.

Better put in a good supply -

The Chicago Street Thugs are finding out they ain't in Kansas anymore.

They may have ruled supreme in Daley Land - but they're playing with the big boys now.

[Old Professer]

The ‘fix’ is in; he’s going to sign a new treaty.

[Recon Dad]

He will arrive later than initially planned, moving his appearance from 9 December to 18 December.

Or it could be that Sarkozy slammed him for showing up at the beginning of the meeting.

[Old Professer]

Last Sunday, I said my money was on Tom Wigley, the former head and recent conscience of Jones, et al but he may have caved since. We'll see, maybe.

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

[Old Professer]

Not seen; what makes you so sure he was identified?

[Dutch Boy]

Translation: Obama wants to get a sense of which way the political winds are blowing before he has to commit himself.

I think you hit the nailed on the head.

[Let's Roll]

Progress = after we figure out how to continue this scam

[prairiebreeze]

He’s waiting for Climategate to simmer down and people to get ultra-busy with Christmas activities. Then he can sign his nasty name to this nasty anti-western treaty without being scrutinized so heavily.

[P-Marlowe]

He’s going to go to SIGN ON the dotted line. This is our sovereignty.

He still needs 67 votes in the Senate. I don't think that is going to happen.