At U.N. Talks on Climate, Plans by U.S. Raise Qualms

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/world/09climate.html?_r=1&ref=world

At U.N. Talks on Climate, Plans by U.S. Raise Qualms

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
Published: April 8, 2009

BONN, Germany — At the start of the United Nations climate talks here 12 days ago, the Obama administration’s chief climate negotiator, Todd Stern, received a round of rowdy applause. It was the first appearance of the new negotiating team at any global meeting.

But by Wednesday, as the meetings drew to a close, some delegates — and even some United Nations officials — were grumbling that the United States was not moving fast enough to take action on global warming.

On Wednesday, Mr. Stern’s team offered the first broad hints of a new international climate policy for the United States, noting that more details would be submitted in a proposal to the United Nations later this month. But even in its broadest brush strokes, the American proposal differs significantly from other plans to curb carbon dioxide emissions enacted by the United Nations and the European Union.

The Obama administration’s plan would require all countries, including developing nations like China and India, to curb greenhouse gas emissions, said Jonathan Pershing, the deputy special envoy for climate change, at a news conference. The plan’s main focus is on long-range goals — as distant as 2050 — for greenhouse gas reduction.

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[pleah]

1. It should be done much faster.

Why do they want to drag it out so long?

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. "Rapid change" means "upheaval"

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upheaval">Upheaval is dangerous, especially to the "establishment."

[pleah]

3. Oh, right. Silly me. n/t