| September 25, 2009 |  |
Progress at G20 Meeting, But No Concrete Deal on Financing
Statement by Alden Meyer, Union of Concerned Scientists' director of strategy and policy
PITTSBURGH, Penn. (September 25, 2009) — President Barack Obama and other world leaders closed their summit meeting in Pittsburgh with a commitment to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, but developed countries made no progress in following through on their pledge to provide financial and technological assistance to help developing countries limit their own emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Below is a statement by Alden Meyer, director of strategy and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
"Overall, the Pittsburgh G-20 summit represents a missed opportunity to move the ball forward on climate change. On the critical issue of funding for developing countries to deploy clean technologies, reduce deforestation, and adapt to the impacts of global warming, the G-20 leaders didn't take the bold steps needed to break the current deadlock in climate negotiations."
"If there's to be a meaningful climate deal in Copenhagen this December, the European Union, Japan, the United States and other industrialized countries must put a serious finance package on the table. All the best rhetoric in the world won't build a single wind turbine, save a single acre of rainforest, or help a single village deal with the impacts of climate change. It's time for these industrialized countries to put their money where their mouths are, and the hour is getting late."
"The Obama administration's success at this summit in getting other countries to agree to phase out fossil fuel subsidies should be applauded. There is no rational argument for continuing to pay companies and consumers to pump more and more carbon pollution into the atmosphere. But we should be clear that the road ahead will be challenging, both in the United States and other countries. Oil and coal companies view these taxpayer subsidies as entitlements, and their champions in Congress and other legislatures will fiercely resist their elimination. That said, this is an important and most welcome initiative, and we will support efforts by President Obama and other leaders to turn it into reality."
"At Tuesday's United Nations climate summit, President Obama correctly noted that 'our generation's response to this challenge will be judged by history.' Unfortunately, when the history of the world's struggle to come to grips with global warming is written, the Pittsburgh summit will, at best, merit a footnote. But there is still time to make sure that the Copenhagen summit represents a new chapter—if world leaders use the next two months wisely, and truly lead."
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
