Was Copenhagen a failure?
Obama salvaged a last-minute agreement at the U.N. climate summit. But commentators wonder if it means anything
There was drama until the end at the Copenhagen climate summit, with world leaders — including President Obama — frantically negotiating late into the evening last Friday. In the end, nearly all of the 193 nations in attendance "grudgingly" signed onto an agreement whose key elements include a goal to keep global temperature rise under two degrees Celsius, $100 billion in aid from industrialized countries to the developing world, and a concession from China (in principle, anyway) to allow outside verification of its carbon emissions. Still, the result fell far short of most expectations. Was Copenhagen a failure? (Watch a report about Climategate's impact on Copenhagen)
What a disaster — goodbye, world: "So that's it," says Johann Hari at Huffington Post. "The world's worst polluters" are simply going to continue "cooking" the planet "in defiance of all the scientific warnings." Rather than choosing any of the ideas floating around Copenhagen that would have actually prevented catastrophic climate change, our politicians "have chosen inertia and low taxes and oil money today over survival tomorrow."
"They didn't seal the deal; They sealed the coffin"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It's a smashing success!: The agreement that Obama helped forge was a "home run," said Mark Helmke, a top staffer to Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), as quoted by the NY Times. The agreement makes China "accountable" while simultaneously moving "India, Brazil and South Africa" into much more prominent positions on the world stage. Moreover, the deal does that, while also managing to satisfy the Europeans.
"Obama negotiates 'Copenhagen accord' with Senate climate fight in mind"
It doesn't accomplish anything — thank goodness: Despite all the sound and fury surrounding Obama's "personal intercession" at the summit, the event has produced only "an agreement to continue talking," says the Wall Street Journal's editorial board. But it could have been worse given that the conference was simply an exercise in developing countries "exploiting the West's carbon guilt" for excessively generous aid packages. We can be greatful that the emptiness of agreement means "less tangible harm" to U.S. interests.
"Copenhagen's lesson in limits"
All things considered, a modest success: The deal is "anticlimactic," to be sure, says the German Marshall Fund Blog. But it is a "major achievement" when considered against "the very real possibility" that the talks could have collapsed entirely. Not only does it keep the U.N. negotiations process "alive" — it is "the first time major emitters...have agreed to cooperate to limit global warming to 2 degrees."
........................................
SEE MORE OPINION BRIEFS ON THIS TOPIC:
• Obama's Copenhagen delusions?
• Does Climategate kill Copenhagen?
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Big Tech's answer for AI-driven job loss: universal basic income
In The Spotlight A new study reveals the strengths and limitations
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'I will not be silent' on Gaza, says Kamala Harris
Speed Read In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Harris supported Israel's right to defend itself while expressing a desire to end Palestinian suffering
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
'How long can TikTok dominate as a social network?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects challenge to CFPB
Speed Read The court rejected a conservative-backed challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published