The Big Apple is focused on climate change.  The UN Climate Summit has gathered over one hundred world leaders to lay the foundation for negotiations on an international climate treaty.

President Obama spoke this morning and called climate change a serious, urgent and growing threat (http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-at-UN-Secretary-General-Ban-Ki-moons-Climate-Change-Summit/).  He followed his assessment of the threat by touting U.S. advances on pollution control and reduction.

The Obama administration announced earlier in the week that, for the first time in history, they will track total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.  The administration is also making considerable investments to double the generating capacity of renewable energy sources in three years and to increase the fuel economy of new cars and trucks while simultaneously reducing their carbon emissions.  The President also committed to persuading the international community to phase out fossil fuel subsidies at the G-20.  While attention going into the meeting was fixated on President Obama, the Chinese garnered praise for laying out specific plans to reduce their emissions levels.

Chinese President Hu Jintao announced that his country will derive 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020 (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iVseyRMTWU-tI-9-sDhfCCJEk4vgD9ASDTP00).  China also committed to boosting its forest cover and increasing its “climate-friendly technologies,” but it has yet to commit to binding cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.  Together, the U.S. and China represent 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Today’s announcements have some believing China is passing the U.S. as the world leader on global warming.  UN climate chief Yvo de Boer referred to the U.S. as “the big question mark.”

Much of the speculation about the intent of the U.S. is derived from the Senate’s reluctance to address climate legislation.  Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA) plan to introduce a bill next week, but many see the possibility of passing a large, complex bill after the health care fight as slim-to-none (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27251.html).

The world has focused its attention on the climate.  The U.S.—more specifically the U.S. Senate—has before it the opportunity to either regain the leadership mantel on climate change or to cede it to the Chinese.

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