US puts climate debate on hold for five weeks despite plea by Merkel
• Senate delay means no bill likely before Copenhagen
• German leader makes historic Congress address
• UN Chief says deal in Copenhagen not likely either (VOA News)
Chancellor of Germany Angela
by Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington and Damian Carrington in UK
International negotiators lost one of the key elements to a successful deal on global warming today after Democratic leaders in the US Congress ruled out passing a climate change law before 2010. In the latest obstacle on the road to the UN summit in Copenhagen next month, Senate leaders ordered a five-week pause to review the costs of the legislation.
The delay, which would push a Senate vote on a climate change bill into next year, frustrates a last-minute push by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, to get America to commit itself at home to cut greenhouse gas emissions before the Copenhagen meeting. World leaders – and US officials – have repeatedly said US legislation is crucial to a deal on global warming.
Merkel used a historic address to a joint session of Congress today to urge America to act on climate change, stating that success at Copenhagen rested on the willingness of all countries to accept binding reductions in carbon emissions.
The first German leader to ever address both houses of Congress, Merkel said a deal was comparable in importance to the tearing down of the Berlin wall 20 years ago. “We need the readiness of all countries to accept internationally binding obligations,” she said to loud applause from Democrats. Republicans largely sat in silence. “There is no doubt about it. In December, the world will look to us: the Europeans and the Americans. I am convinced once we … show ourselves ready to adopt binding agreements we will also be able to persuade China and India.”
Merkel also raised her concerns with Barack Obama in a visit to the White House earlier today. He told reporters: “Chancellor Merkel has been an extraordinary leader on the issue of climate change. And the US, Germany, and countries around the world are all beginning to recognise why it is so important that we work in common to stem the potential catastrophe that could result if we see global warming continuing unabated.”
Read the complete article here
h/t to Dr. Benny Peiser
As Lord Monckton explained: No bill needed. Copenhagen will indirectly issue it.
I suppose the calculation is that it is better to arrive in Copenhagen without a bill “yet”, rather than to arrive with a bill very recently blown out of the water.
They won’t let go and perform the process in steps.
Fortunately Obama’s political base political base is crumbling.
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/11/gallup_gop_would_win_the_house.html
Well as long as “health care” remains the main focus of Obama and the Dems, there will be no move on cap and tax since it is as unpopular as the “health care” hoax. Everyone up for re-election in 2010 aren’t about to risk it all on these two catastrophes-in-waiting, let alone one of them. The weak Republicans have to watch their backs now and the Blue Dog Democrats won’t have Bush to run against this election, so cap and trade is a no go for now. Also it looks as if “health care” will be pushed into 2010, so don’t look for cap and trade to be taken up anytime soon. I am by no means calling “victory,” but its passage is not a sure thing either. Merkel can fly back to Germany bathed in the knowledge that the voters of the US aren’t quite ready to engage in economic suicide.
Good news for all the politicians going to Copenhagen. They can have their jolies and achieve nothing. At the end they can all blame it on the Americans. The American Government can blame it all on the Republicans and the Republicans can kick the dog.
In the meantime the closer we approach the next round of elections in the USA the less likely any such bill will get passed by the US Congress. I think there is likely to be an inbuilt majority against it consisting of Republicans and Democrats from Coal and Oil states. But then I am not an American so I might be totally wrong.
“I am convinced once we … show ourselves ready to adopt binding agreements we will also be able to persuade China and India.”
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Angie. I needed that laugh.
There is not a snowball’s chance in hell of getting either India or China to agree to curb their emissions. Not without large payments to settle our supposed “climate debt” anyway.
What chancellor Merkel said was: “„We need to agree in Copenhagen … Global warming must not exceed 2C. Therefore we need all countries to be ready to take international binding commitments.” (my translation)
One should know that Ms. Merkel has appointed Prof. Schellnhuber as her Climate Advisor. This is the individual who seriously mentioned that, once in 2050, with 9.5b humans, wanting the quality of life as Portugal, the world would explode(!).
Are those cheering Senators and congressmen aware what a position they support?
Btw., I do share Merkel’s words when expressing thanks to America.
…Merkel said a deal was comparable in importance to the tearing down of the Berlin wall 20 years ago.
I think Ms Merkel should crack open a history book or two. Very bizarre.
Gore’s halo is slipping:
Al Gore denies he is ‘carbon billionaire’
As he publishes a new book, critics say climate change has made him rich
By David Usborne in New York
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/al-gore-denies-he-is-carbon-billionaire-1814199.html
We need more Monckton and fewer Merkels.
Those that have already screwed themselves for a hoax want company ..
Where is the science consensus now?
Did Al Gore signal the end? This is big. Al Gore is now saying carbon dioxide isn’t actually to blame for most of the warming we saw until 2001: http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/gore_clears_carbon_dioxide_of_most_blame/
And does this mean Al Gore admits it’s been cooling for the better part of the last decade?
Is he switching to a ministry now? What about the lawsuits to follow?
@Simon, I think the last count is that he has received 200 mn US for speaking fees, etc. He may not be a billionaire, but he ain’t hurting either. The people that will be hurting are the guys at the bottom of the social ladder if this stuff goes into effect. Just ask the Mexicans who had the price of Tacos doubled because of the ethanol madness.
Poor Al Gore. The fear of spontaneous combustion must haunt him.
Yes! The longer this mess is debated the more likely a tipping point will be reached, perhaps Cap & Tax will never pass.
As we know that animal food production (meat, milk, etc,) account for 18% of all man or beast made green house gases (fart tax anyone?) and all transportation account for only 13%, the farming and ranching states are not exactly enthusiastic either. And Gore himself has said that he is not ready to give up meat. This gives us 5 more weeks to educate the elite about the real underlying factors that make our weather and climate.
Slip sliding away, slip sliding away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip sliding away
(Paul Simon)
What is it that Angela Merkel, Al Gore and Michael Gorebatchov and many other wll known people have in common: It’s their membership of the Club of Rome.
October 24, The Club of Rome held a meeting in Amsterdam and made the so called Amsterdam Declaration directed at the upcoming Copenhagen Conference.
http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/club-rome-meets-amsterdam
Have a look at the activities of the Club of Rome, the primary source of all the scare mongering in the world today. Non of their dire predictions have materialized.
It’s all about grabbing the political power to control humanity, the current climate hoax is just a tool, nothing more, nothing less
Take a look at the name lists of those involved, the connections to World Politics, individual Nations and the UN and you know this entire plot for a “World Revolution” is real.
http://www.clubofrome.org/eng/home/
http://www.green-agenda.com/globalrevolution.html
I wonder if she has read “the bill: it’s for sure that few if any of the robots she was addressing have read it; probably about the same number who have read the socialized medicine bill.
I’ll be all in favor of “cap and tax” at about the same time that Coca Cola Bottling Company declares that they will unilaterally remove ALL CO2 from their products.
Incidently apparently new research shows that there is NO SUBSTITUTE for CO2 in carbonated beverages. Evidently the human taste system is uniquely sensitive to CO2. Animals tongues aren’t; so other animals could care less about Coca Cola.
Barack Obama…told reporters: “…it is so important that we work in common to stem the potential catastrophe that could result IF we see global warming continuing unabated.”
Huh????
Is it possible that BO is leaving an escape hatch?
Europe can go take a flying leap!
Terryskinner (17:03:15) :
Good news for all the politicians going to Copenhagen. They can have their jolies and achieve nothing. At the end they can all blame it on the Americans. The American Government can blame it all on the Republicans and the Republicans can kick the dog.
And the dog, tired of being kicked, will snap at the children. Prompting animal control to put the dog “down.” Problem solved.
Ban Ki-who?
Merkel used a historic address to a joint session of Congress today to urge America to act on climate change…
We aren’t listening to American politicians on the issue. Why would we listen to her?? (scratches head)
Merkel said a deal was comparable in importance to the tearing down of the Berlin wall 20 years ago.
PULEASE!!!!
He (i.e. Barack Obama) told reporters “….it is so important that we work in common to stem the potential catastrophe that could result if we see global warming continuing unabated.
continuing unabated—ya, it’s really getting hot out.