Will the G-8 agree with the rest of the world in Copenhagen?
Are environmental groups still relevant as the world battles climate change? On the face of it, this seems a farcical question. Environmentalists have worked tirelessly to alert the public and decision-makers alike to the dangers of climate change and to advocate a fundamental shift away from fossil fuels. And on June 26, many celebrated when the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approved the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) bill [PDF] – the first U.S. climate legislation ever.
But as the climate debate enters a decisive phase – with negotiations in full swing to hammer out an international agreement in Copenhagen this year – there is a darker side. With few exceptions, current national goals for cutting greenhouse gas emissions are weak and typically push action to the distant, rather than the near, future. Although part of the environmental community has responded critically, other groups claim that more stringent climate action is simply not politically feasible – and that asking for more risks the collapse of any climate deal.
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