Climate Deal Must Have Immediate Effect, Obama Says

obama-chinaBy Chris Buckley and Alister Doyle

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday next month’s climate talks in Copenhagen should cut a deal with “immediate operational effect”, even if its original aim of a legally binding pact is not achievable.

Obama was speaking after talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao in which he said the world’s top two greenhouse gas emitters had agreed to take “significant” action to mitigate their output of carbon dioxide.

“Our aim (in Copenhagen) … is not a partial accord or a political declaration but rather an accord that covers all of the issues in the negotiations and one that has immediate operational effect,” Obama said.

Denmark, host of the Dec. 7-18 climate talks, welcomed Obama’s comments and said it expected the United States and all developed nations to promise firm emissions cuts and new cash to help the poor cope with global warming, even if no treaty text could be agreed.

Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen won backing on Sunday from Obama and other leaders at an Asia-Pacific summit for his scaled-down plan for a politically binding deal, with a legally binding one delayed until 2010.

“The American president endorsed our approach, implying that all developed countries will need to bring strong reduction targets to the negotiating table in Copenhagen,” he told about 40 environment ministers meeting in the Danish capital.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was also keen that the momentum for a deal should be maintained.

“We will make very clear that we continue to support ambitious goals for Copenhagen,” she told reporters before a cabinet meeting.

“We must do everything to ensure that we move quickly to get a binding agreement. Even if this can’t be reached in Copenhagen, it can’t be pushed back forever.”

Read the rest of this article at Reuters.

4 Responses to Climate Deal Must Have Immediate Effect, Obama Says

  1. paul wenum November 20, 2009 at 12:24 am #

    Let’s all hope our President, yes, our President, backs off on this and focus’s on the economy period! This BS that has cost us untold dollars that could be well spent elsewhere such as dealing with the “ECONOMY???”. No brainer.

  2. Norm Copper November 23, 2009 at 3:19 am #

    What is wrong with the thinking of the people in charge of our country? Has everyone been drugged or hypnotized or just stupid? How long are those in charge going to let this insane action by a man who is not legally sitting in the oval office. The simple act of not having his birth certificate to prove he’s a natural born American citizen should throw down a LOT of Red Flags about this man. He is a man who wants to destroy our Constitution at all cost. Please he needs to be remove from office before we are all in containment camps. Trust me, that is where this is heading.

  3. Rob N. Hood November 27, 2009 at 2:17 am #

    Uh Norm, how is Obama not legal? And who is crazy? And Bush didn’t wipe his butt with the Constitution, and in fact call it “just a piece of paper”? How did you feel about that? Oh, let me guess, you don’t beleive he ever said that…

    IF Obama was as evil as you believe he is, do you REALLY think all the Repubs and the Military would just stand by with their thumbs up their butts? Really? And so don’t you think the might ALL be in on it (more or less)? Just some logic and reasoning for you to consider. It’s sometimes helpful.

  4. paul wenum November 30, 2009 at 1:12 am #

    Robby Boy, Obama is our President and I respect that he was elected by the majority. He is the Commander in Chief and the military cannot do anything but “BOHICA”. I do not dislike “Our” President, I simply dislike his policies and agendas. That Simple!!!!

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