China Takes First Step Towards Climate Deal By Committing To Carbon Target

At the UN, China’s President Hu Jintao made a dramatic commitment to reduce carbon emissions. Unfortunately, specific targets were not forthcoming. However, US President Obama failed to provide even a commitment to work with the US Senate to craft a bill that would cap greenhouse gas emissions. China, for its part, is factoring climate change into the long term direction of its economy. The upshot of the speeches at the UN summit highlighted two issues. First, developed nations, especially the US, which bears the majority of responsibility for the buildup of the stock of green house gases, are facing greater pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a result of actions and talk out of China and India. Second, as the climate change talks in Copenhagen loom, the tone suggests a concrete deal remains elusive. – YaleGlobal