Wondering why we picked Climate Change?

Written by Staff Thursday, 04 June 2009 19:47

You are probably wondering with all the existing ʻbuzzʼ on the topic, why we picked ʻCLIMATE CHANGEʼ as the most critical topic to discuss.

“The climate is changing and there is overwhelming scientific consensus that it is human-induced. Many also agree that climate change may be one of the greatest threats facing the planet”.

If you have been following the news, you already know that US Congressional leaders are working against a six-month deadline to pass a sweeping package of environmental legislation before global climate change talks begin in Copenhagen in December 2009.

Although it is a delicate balancing act for the Obama administration to weigh the environmental benefits against the expected costs of new legislation, the Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives put major environmental legislation on a fasttrack, boosting chances a climate change bill will pass before the August recess.

The climate change bill remains one of the top priorities of President Obama. On May 21, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a bill requiring reductions of industrial emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases of 17 percent by 2020 and 83 percent by 2050, from 2005 levels. It would also require power companies to get 15% of their electricity from clean sources of energy like wind and sun. However, by the time the bill comes to a vote, the bar might be lowered further still.

This yearʼs meeting at Copenhagen is intended to result in all nations (including China, India and the US) to agree on a new climate treaty. The proposed new climate treaty will replace the Kyoto Protocol, so called because of the agreement that was reached in the Japanese city of Kyoto in December 1997 which came into force in February 2005.

The Kyoto Protocol set binding targets for industrialized countries for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and was signed and ratified by 184 parties of the UN Climate Convention. However, the US did not ratify it.

It is important for us to start with the facts on Climate Change, engage in the global dialogue and help world leaders make informed decisions as they chart our common future. We look forward to your ʻshoutsʼ on our Facebook Page. Like Now!