When asked what came next after the U.N. climate talks in Copenhagen, Brown said “I’ve got an idea about how we can actually move this forward over the next few months and I’ll be working on this.”  He also thinks “it’s not impossible that the groundwork that was done at Copenhagen could lead to what you might call a global agreement that everybody is happy to stand by.” In the next few months, Brown will be working on coming up with a plan, and “… can see a way forward because what prevented an agreement was suspicion and fear and forms of protectionism that [he] think[s] we’ve got to get over.” Although he hasn’t given any details to what that plan may include, it is heartening to know that just because the talks are over, work on the issue isn’t.

Other world leaders have also made New Year’s Resolutions about moving forward towards a global climate change agreement. Obama wants to move a cap-and trade bill through Congress, and has firmly stated that clean, renewable energy will “drive economic growth for decades to come,” with hopes that the US becomes the leader in renewable energy technology development. France’s Nicolas Sarkozy and Germany’s Angela Merkel have both committed to hosting talks during the year. Mexico is pushing for the most controversial commitment of a cut of 50% by 2050. Brazil plans to stay in keeping with its own ambitious targets. Meanwhile, India has launched a plan for special green economic zones, and even China has released new regulations to increase the use of renewable energy.

Via The Times of India and Grist

1  print email thisemail