Doha Talks: More US leadership is needed
- November 26th, 2012
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On Monday, the UN climate talks began- which included representatives from about 200 countries. The talks are taking place in Doha, Qatar under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The purpose of the talks is to create an international agreement to prevent global warming. Specifically, there is a push to have governments commit to deep carbon cuts to prevents the Earth’s temperature from rising 4 degrees. According to the World Bank and multiple other sources, such an increase would have devastating effects- crop failures, sea level rise, etc.
Analysts expect that “the United States is on track to meet its goal of reducing its greenhouse-gas emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020”. The US has also provided $7.46 billion in international climate assistance over the past three years. I believe that actions like these by the US are a signal that the US is interesting in combating climate change, but it is clear that the US needs to take a greater role. US leadership on climate change would spur greater international cooperation on the issue.
-Leandra
US cooperation on climate change would also improve its relations with other members of the international community. I think a strong argument can be made for U.S. cooperation in climate change talks to gain international support for its security initiatives. The U.S. has asserted before that it is in favor of each nation creating its own climate change policy in lieu of an international agreement, which explains its 2020 projections and significant financial contributions. If the U.S. does take a greater leadership role in international climate change, however, not only will we see environmental benefits, but likely political ones as well.