tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post5790250965803382191..comments2023-12-04T10:02:29.445-06:00Comments on Mark's China Blog: Copenhagen Talks Already Stalling?Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967364257656897151noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-62276621802962878842009-09-04T12:09:58.228-05:002009-09-04T12:09:58.228-05:00Hi Mark,
Thanks for this post.
I think that t...Hi Mark, <br /><br />Thanks for this post. <br /><br />I think that the major problem with the Copenhagen negotiations, and one that is unlikely to be solved any time soon, if ever, is that there is an incessant focus on quantified and supposedly "legally binding" carbon dioxide emissions reductions targets. China is never going to agree to mandated cuts in their emissions, because it threatens their economic growth. Developed countries, meanwhile, have been unable to meet their own Kyoto emissions targets. Instead, the focus should turn to what is actually driving CO2 emissions in the first place, which is the carbon intensity of the energy supply. Instead of mandating emissions reductions, the U.S. and all negotiating parties at Copenhagen should be pushing all countries to work to achieve targets for the development and deployment of clean energy technologies to displace carbon-intensive ones. Instead of setting arbitrary emissions targets without any policy in place to meet them, countries can come together around an international project to create a clean and prosperous global energy economy. This would have the double benefit of decreasing carbon emissions and contributing to sustainable economic growth. In truth, China is far ahead of many developed nations, including the U.S., in understanding the economic growth potential of the clean energy technology sector, and they are eating our lunch in the Clean Energy Race. <br /><br />Best,<br /><br />DevonDevonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08005486424418407343noreply@blogger.com