| July 10, 2009 |  |
Obama Offers Chance for Climate Breakthrough
Statement by Alden Meyer, Strategy and Policy Director, Union of Concerned Scientists
L'AQUILA, ITALY (July 10, 2009) — Leaders of the world's largest economies offered hope yesterday that at least one of the longstanding sticking points over the contents of a climate treaty may be seriously addressed in the next few months, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). At issue is the need for developed countries to provide funding and technology assistance to developing countries to help them limit their emissions and adapt to climate change. In a bid to resolve the dispute, President Obama announced that leaders of 17 countries meeting in Italy have instructed their finance ministers to develop proposals for how to provide that financial help. The proposals will be discussed and acted on by leaders at the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh in September.
Below is a statement by Alden Meyer, Strategy and Policy Director at UCS:
"Financial and technology support to developing countries to limit their emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change is one of the most critical issues in the climate negotiations.
"The G-20 summit in September is the last time before Copenhagen that all of these leaders will be in one place together. If the initiative announced today by President Obama results in serious action on these issues by leaders at the G-20 meeting, it could be a real game-changer.
"The need for more ambitious near-term emissions reductions by industrialized countries, as well as the need for additional actions by major developing countries to constrain their emissions must also be addressed to get a strong climate agreement this December in Copenhagen. But today's announcement gives us hope that with sufficient political will, such an agreement is not out of reach."
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.
