Europe is becoming the leader in Copenhagen for stopping the global climate change issue. They are giving up billions in order to try and stop the emissions that the world is putting into the atmosphere. Europe hopes to start other nations to help the cause and Europe is paying the poorer countries so that they will help stop their harmful emissions. Europe is also cutting its own emissions to try and set a good example for the other nations. Europe hopes that the US and China will cut their emissions to set a good example for the rest of the world. Europe is promising to cut emissions by 30 percent and the US has only promised a 3 percent withdrawal from the 1990 standards. This puts Europe far ahead of any other country in means of protecting the environment.
Europe states that all of these limitations and regulations are necessary to protect our environment. China and the US are hesitant to do the same because of the costs. Some say it is too expensive and wont have save much. Others believe that this needs to be done in order to save the environment. Some protesters have appeared at Copenhagen trying to save the economy, while other protesters are there to save the environment. The choice that needs to be made is whether or not the world needs money now, or they need to have a long lasting source. If the economy is saved at the environments expense, then we could loose everything. If the environment is saved, then poverty will be a much bigger issue than it is now. The discussion at Copenhagen is to find a middle ground between these two issues. Europe decided that the environment is a higher priority, while the US is already in an economical crisis and is working on that problem, so the environment isn't as high as a priority.
I agree with Max that Europe should continue to lead the way in enviromental reform. The US is having way too many issues as of now from a change in political ideas, a poor economy, and much dissent over our wars in the Middle East. Even very small changes can have a very large impact on the percieved views of America through it's citizens and the citizens of the world.
ReplyDeleteYeah , someone has to stand up and take charge of the change that needs to happen. U.S and China will slowly follow if only there is a strong foundation made.
ReplyDeleteI think Europe's decision to provide poorer countries with funds to combat global warming is a good idea. Oftentimes, developing countries simply don't have the means to be environmentally friendly, because they have to worry about earning a living. Not only will the funds help the environment, but also the people receiving the funds. For instance, the money will help build irrigation systems, improve health care, and modify crops threatened by drought.
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