WASHINGTON, DC–(ENEWSPF)–November 18, 2009 – World Wildlife Fund (WWF) issued the following statement from Keya Chatterjee, Acting Director of Climate Change for WWF, in reaction to remarks today by President Obama and President Hu Jintao on prospects for the upcoming climate negotiations in Copenhagen:
“Recently it’s become fashionable to downplay expectations for Copenhagen. But as we heard today, President Obama and President Hu remain optimistic and their statements provide strong evidence that Copenhagen can still deliver all of the key elements of a legally binding agreement.
“Both leaders pledged that their countries will take significant actions to reduce emissions in Copenhagen. They also said that a partial accord or political declaration won’t be enough and are calling for a ‘comprehensive deal.’
“With less than three weeks to go before Copenhagen, it is good news that the two largest emitting countries have announced a shared commitment to success in Copenhagen. A bi-partisan blueprint from the Senate is now the key missing piece. If we can get this strong signal from the Senate, the administration can strike a deal in Copenhagen that captures the offers on the table from other countries and lays a strong foundation for a final global agreement.
“We’re also very pleased that the U.S. and China are going to collaborate on developing clean energy, and we’re looking forward to that spirit of collaboration carrying forward to the international climate talks.
“As observers in China can tell you, China recognizes that the solutions to climate change also hold tremendous economic opportunity and by nearly every measure, they are outperforming the United States. To change this dynamic, the U.S. must create the market incentives to jumpstart our own clean energy sector. We need a firm limit on carbon pollution to send the investment signals that will allow the clean energy technology industry to take root and thrive here in the U.S. as it has already in China. ”
ACT FOR OUR FUTURE
For more information about WWF’s efforts to secure Senate passage of climate legislation, please visit www.ActForOurFuture.org.
Source: worldwildlife.org
