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The Montreal talks on climate change got off to a rocky, but predictable, start this week. About 10,000 experts, diplomats, attorneys, environmentalists, journalists, scientists, tribesmen, hillsmen, valley girls, islanders, seafarers, landlubbers, baby mamas and even a few Canadians gathered to try to figure out what to do to save the earth from global warming when the Kyoto Treaty expires in 2012. But all they talked about, if you believe what you read in the papers, is the Bush administration’s relentless refusal to engage in any international political process that would cut carbon emissions.
Ok. The United States is the biggest polluter of greenhouse gases. Sure, the administration has given the rest of the world the finger on climate change. It’s not news that Bush doesn’t give a damn about whether New Orleans or Papau-New Guinea sinks into the sea, the polar ice caps melt or the Sahara spreads to Joburg. Everyone knows he has spent the last five years, 1) denying that global warming exists; 2) denigrating Kyoto 1; and 3) doing everything possible to prevent the transformation of the global economy from its suicidal dependence on fossil fuels to a sustainable path based on human development, encouragement of alternative energy sources, energy efficiency and respect for the equality of all peoples and nations.
Then why are those who take the Montreal talks seriously wasting their time obsessing about the U.S.?
Here’s a suggestion: don’t. Don’t let the Bushies bully you into believing that unless the U.S. participates in formulating a folo-on treaty, it can’t happen. Don’t fall for the idea that this administration can be convinced by earnest diplomacy, cajoled by moral suasion, moved by facts, scientific evidence or sweet reason. It can’t. It won’t. The idea is a delusion, and you have more important things to do in Montreal than indulge in false hopes or express outrage. The main thing now is to include the developing countries in Kyoto 2, and especially China, India, Brazil, South Africa and South Korea. If they are not brought inside the next treaty, the game is probably lost.
Europe must marshal its diplomatic, economic and political skills to bring them on board a fair, just, flexible and transparent system that will foster sustainable development, climate stabilization and the conservation of natural systems. That means concentrating your efforts on inviting the world’s six billion people (including Americans) into an expanding carbon market, and turning that market into the world’s mightiest commodity exchange. Trust me: America will eventually come running to join up. It’s too big an opportunity for American companies to pass up.
Already, American state and city governments and American companies are taking steps to abide by Kyoto 1. California is regionalizing with Washington and Oregon. The Northeat states have formed a Kyoto consortium. More will do so, as the global carbon market links economics with environment. Expand the carbon market through clean development mechanisms, carbon emissions credits for natural environmental services, leapfrogging technology deals, efficiency-based credits, industrial ecology mechanisms.
So forget the Bush administration. Let them huff and puff and stick their heads in the ground. Don’t let them see you sweat their insane opposition to God’s work.
Don’t let one monkey stop the show.
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