Now lets talk about setting targets "in the range of” 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83 percent by 2050." The League, of which I am a delegate, supports a target of atleast 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80-95 percent by 2050. So this is nearly in line with the League's position that is joined by numerous other organizations in the National Call to Action.
So where is COP15 today on the negotiations? In the 174 page Barcelona Report of the AWG-LCA7, the targets are set as such (pp. 64-65):
- "global emissions must peak by 2015, and then be reduced by more than 85 percent below 1990 levels by 2050"
- "Parties shall collectively reduce global emissions by atleast 45 percent from 1990 levels by 2020 and by atleast 95 percent from 1990 levels by 2050."
- "aggregate greenhouse gas emissions by developed country Parties shall be reduced by [25-40] percent by 2020 compared with 1990."
- "Parties shall further collectively reduce global emissions by 50-85 percent by 2050 compared with the 2000 level."
And what about health care reform? Well it has been confirmed that our Congressional Delegation ("codel" in the COP talk) may be delayed. According to a source from the Majority Leader's office, if the vote is pending on health care reform, the legislators will not be able to go to Copenhagen. This again underscores the importance of Obama attending to demonstrate the American commitment to curb carbon emissions.
And yes, I am loving doing all this analysis and reading long negotiated texts, using all my Model UN skillz and what law school taught me to do when looking at these crazy documents. I am getting a great deal of personal satisfaction out of this! I am a geek that someday will get a real life.
Tomorrow - I will discuss health care and global warming and the two new studies out of the Lancet.
So as this is the Thanksgiving edition, I am truly wishing you and your family a very wonderful Thanksgiving. We all have a great deal to be thankful for. So, like I did when I first moved to Michigan - having been introduced to the idea by a friend of a friend - here are my Gratitudes:
I am grateful for:
- A healthy family and furry children (first time in a long time);
- Amazing friends that inspire me every day to do better;
- A beautiful home where I can play in the sand and watch the setting sun over the ocean any day I like; and
- The opportunity and God-given ability to help the world in activities such as this and my other volunteer activities.