Connie Hedegaard: USA er tilbage

Klima- og energiminister Connie Hedegaard udtaler i den forbindelse:

”Der var en markant tale: Præsident Obamas repræsentant slog fast, at ja, en ny aftale skal give svaret på den klimaudfordring, videnskaben har kortlagt, og ja, USA har et stort ansvar. USA konkluderede, at det økonomisk bedst kan betale sig at handle nu, for omkostningerne ved ikke at handle er meget større. Endelig blev København klart udpeget som det sted, der skal indgås en aftale.

Nu skal USA og alle andre lande så konkretisere, hvordan klimaudfordringen skal tackles frem til 2020. Det er nødvendigt for at leve op til det markante tilsagn om at være baseret på videnskaben. Det bliver lakmusprøven på engagementet. Men som Todd Stern sagde i talen: USA er glad for at være tilbage i forhandlingerne. Jeg skal hilse og sige, at glæden er gengældt.”

Det sagde Todd Stern blandt andet:
 
-          I want to say on behalf of President Obama and his entire team that we are glad to be back.
-          Science is clear, and the threat is real. The facts on the ground are outstripping the worst case scenarios.
-          The costs of inaction – or inadequate actions – are unacceptable
-          By transforming to a low-carbon economy, we can stimulate global economic growth … I will go so far as to say that those who hang back and cling to a high-carbon path will be economic losers in the end
-          We would like to see an outcome in Copenhagen in which all countries set a long-term pathway
-          United States recognizes our unique responsibility … as the largest historic emitter of greenhouse gases
-          America itself cannot provide the solution, but there is no solution without America.
-          We need an agreement that … will enter into force with all countries participating … Let me speak frankly here: It is in no one’s interest to repeat the experience of Kyoto by delivering an agreement that won’t gain sufficient support at home in all of our countries, including my own.