Markey: Obama Copenhagen Accord Opens Door for World Agreement on Climate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chairman Ed Markey, 202-494-4486
Markey: Obama Copenhagen Accord Opens Door for World Agreement on Climate
U.S. Leadership Sparks Progress in Climate Talks as Copenhagen Conference Recognizes Accord
COPENHAGEN (December 19, 2009) – The vast majority of the countries here at the Copenhagen climate talks today recognized an accord forged by President Barack Obama, opening the door for continued reengagement on climate change. While only a handful of obstinate countries prevented full adoption of the accord by the entire conference, the broad recognition of the document – crafted less than 24 hours ago by 5 countries, including the United States – signifies a breakthrough in the world’s climate talks.
“President Obama took a climate deal that many considered dead in the water and created a watershed moment in the global effort to combat climate change,” said Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-author of the House-passed Waxman-Markey climate bill and chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. “Nearly every single country in the world, representing more than 6 billion people, including all nations critical to a final binding agreement, now agree that we should complete that goal by the end of 2010.”
The accord, which was forged yesterday during intense negotiations between the United States, China, India, Brazil and South Africa, was recognized by the full climate conference here in Copenhagen. A handful of dissenting countries like Sudan and Venezuela prevented the entire conference from adopting the agreement.
The deal also signifies a new era in United States leadership on climate change. Along with President Obama’s 11th hour negotiating tour de force, the U.S. House of Representatives sent 21 members to the talks, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Reps. Markey and Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), the co-authors of the House-passed climate bill. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) also were vital voices in the talks.
“ There is now a new paradigm of U.S. leadership on climate change, where activity has replaced passivity,” said Rep. Markey. “Today’s recognition by 98 percent of the world of an American-led accord shows that the United States has retaken the mantle as a multilateral negotiating force.”
The Select Committee was active during the 110th and 111th Congresses. This is an archived version of the website, to ensure that the public has ongoing access to the Select Committee record. This website, including external links, will not be updated after Jan. 3rd, 2010.
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