‘Lunacy?’ U.S. Agrees to Enter Into Treaty to Begin Cutting Emissions by 2020
- Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:44am by
Liz Klimas
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A deal of sorts was reached during the hard-fought global climate conference in South Africa over the weekend. Emission targets will be established for countries by 2015 but won’t be enforced until 2020, which some say is too late while others call out “lunacy” within the deal.
This is the first time the U.S., along with India and China, have agreed to enter into such a treaty, which is being called a ”protocol, legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force”.
“We avoided a train wreck and we got some useful incremental decisions,” said Alden Meyer, of the Washington-based Union of Concerned Scientists. “The bad news is that we did very little here to affect the emissions curve which is accelerating, and the impacts of climate change which are climbing day by day.”
Even with delayed required emission reduction efforts, The Telegraph reports Chris Huhne, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, as saying that he believe the deal will still encourage reductions sooner:
“What we have done today is a great success for European diplomacy. We have managed to put this on the map and take the major emitters – the US, India and China – to a road map that will secure an overarching deal,” he said.
Watch the BBC News report of the deal:
Lord Christopher Monckton, who was at first banned from the conference and then parachuted down into the city, wrote that the deal is “off the wall” and “lunatic” citing some of the following aspects:
- A new International Climate Court will have the power to compel Western nations to pay ever-larger sums to third-world countries in the name of making reparation for supposed “climate debt”. The Court will have no power over third-world countries. Here and throughout the draft, the West is the sole target. “The process” is now irredeemably anti-Western.
- “Rights of Mother Earth”: The draft, which seems to have been written by feeble-minded green activists and environmental extremists, talks of “The recognition and defence of the rights of Mother Earth to ensure harmony between humanity and nature”. Also, “there will be no commodification (whatever that may be: it is not in the dictionary and does not deserve to be_ of the functions of nature, therefore no carbon market will be developed with that purpose”.
- “Right to survive”: The draft childishly asserts that “The rights of some Parties to survive are threatened by the adverse impacts of climate change, including sea level rise.” At 2 inches per century, according to eight years’ data from the Envisat satellite? Oh, come off it! The Jason 2 satellite, the new kid on the block, shows that sea-level has actually dropped over the past three years.
Still, many scientists maintain that as greenhouse gases continue to rise, the world’s climate will reach a tipping point with irreversible effects, such as melting ice sheets and rising sea levels. They cannot pinpoint exactly when that would happen, but the two-decade-long climate negotiations have been focused on preventing global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.2 degrees Celsius) above current levels by the end of this century.
A report released before the Durban talks by the U.N. Environment Programme said greenhouse gas emissions need to peak before 2020 for the world to have a shot of reaching that target. It said that’s doable only if nations raise their emissions pledges. In Durban, they did not.
Sunday’s deal extends by five years the Kyoto Protocol, the 1997 agreement that has binding emissions targets for some industrial countries but not the world’s biggest carbon polluters, China and the United States.
The Durban agreement also envisions a new accord with binding targets for all countries to take effect in 2020. And it sets up the bodies that will collect, govern and distribute tens of billions of dollars to poor countries suffering the effects of climate change.
The U.S. doesn’t want to commit to any binding deal unless it also imposes strict emissions targets on China and India. The latter insist their targets should be more lenient because, historically, the West has a bigger share of the blame for man-made warming.
Some say the diplomatic effort to solve the climate issue has already failed, and that the answer lies in the development of green technologies outside the U.N. process.
“Handing the problem to diplomats was one of the first failures,” Dan Sarewitz, professor of science policy at Arizona State University, said in an email.
The idea that the global energy system could be decarbonized by anything other technological developments, driven to a large extent by national polices and businesses, “was never more than a delusion,” Sarewitz said.
Roger Pielke Jr. of the University of Colorado said treaties and timetables don’t reduce emissions.
“Technology reduces emissions,” he said. “International agreements are simply a means to stimulating technological innovation. In the climate debate we have confused ends and means.”
Even in Durban, there was a growing recognition that the transition to a low-carbon economy must be underpinned by a revolution in new energy, said Nicholas Stern, who wrote a landmark 700-page report in 2006 on the effect of climate change on the global economy.
U.N. officials hailed the Durban conference as a success, and judged against the low expectations for climate talks following the breakdown of the much-hyped Copenhagen talks two years ago, that’s not unreasonable.
“I salute the countries who made this agreement. They have all laid aside some cherished objectives of their own to meet a common purpose — a long-term solution to climate change,” said U.N. climate chief Christiana Figueres.
The process now lives on, but the difficult part lies ahead: raising the targets for emissions cuts enough to slow the rise in temperatures. Right now, there are few signs suggesting that’s going to happen.
That means efforts to reduce emissions through national and local regulations, and in the private sector through new technologies, “need to accelerate to full throttle,” said Michael Oppenheimer, professor of geosciences and international affairs at Princeton University.
“If all countries pushed renewable energy and other low-carbon technologies with corresponding vigor while (simultaneously) pulling the various regulatory levers available to them,” Oppenheimer said, “we might have a chance to beat the benchmark of danger.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.




















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Comments (189)
Rayblue
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:19amBring it up in one of the endless debates.
Report Post »If they dare to challenge the mighty Treebaggers.
Miami
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:31amGuys the global warming lie is out
At this point these morons are giving cold medicine to a dead man
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:36amI don‘t know how America could ’cut’ emissions any more. Every manufacturing job we had is now over seas. With the advent of the sovereign (Chinese) economic zone establishment, of which there are at least 254 in the U.S., China is set to begin building cities right here.
The first deal for one of these has been concluded south of Boise Idaho. 50 sq miles of land is set to be developed for a ‘self sustaining’ city and manufacturing center. Built, maned and run by Chinese, brought here for that purpose. Extended families included.
Some years back I hypothesized that the governments race to acquire and exclude vast tracts of the American west, such as the Escalante Staircase in Utah (B.J.Clinton), was for the specific purpose of an “in ground” guaranteed natural resource, oil shales and sands, natural gas and crude oil, and other commodities like gold and silver deposits, basically money in the bank, for China.
I guarantee you, those were for use by China. And equal a bribe or lure or part of the deal to bring them here.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:42amLast time I checked we had a Constitution if the goevrnment wants the enter into anything it has to go through the people’s house(CONGRESS) to be enforcable
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 12:04pmAll of our pollution is coming from the farmers sice nearly all our jobs are outside of the USA. Shut down farming right now and shut the auto MFG’s like we did in World War ll and make electric tractors. We could be the world leaders. My 3 sons have already along with a bunch of neighbors parled their Farm land in the Government program. C. R. A. P. You get paid not to farm – pretty good deal. Last year all the neighbors still farming lost heir rear – no hay – no crops and with corn being used to make gas has doubled. Folks wonder why groceries have cost 1/3 more – burn food in cars.
Report Post »Buck Shane
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 12:14pm@ Ruler4You
Report Post »Conspiracy theories only exist because people can’t trust their government. People can’t trust their government so conspiracy theories exist. That they are conspiracy theories doesn’t make them wrong.
Them being wrong makes them wrong.
If you are right, then some links supporting your theory would be nice. There are some Blazers here who can further the theory and maybe help the Tea Party address it. If you are wrong, the potential for our government to do things like this in secret should effect everyone’s vote. DO NOT vote for an establishment Republican. Bachmann, Santorum, or Paul would work. Gingrich or Romney are as untrustworthy as what we have now.
Because of a dishonest press, truth becomes managed opinion. The leader in the race to be the Republican candidate is currently someone who is a progressive big government globalist. He is trying to outsmart us – not represent us.
Keep seeing what you see, and share it any way you can.
sparta48
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 12:16pmSmithclair you are correct we cannot entry into a treaty or an agreement without first approval from both houses of congress thank God for that cause it will never pass can this administration redistribute any more money than they already have. I mean when is enough enough
Report Post »JohnGalt
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 12:56pmRuler4you, Actually there is still a lot of manufacturing left in the US. Based on a dollar amount per manufacturing infrastructure the U.S has a $2 Trillion base, China only has a $1 Trillion dollar manufacturing base.
Report Post »SerikFox
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 1:12pmWe produce a grand total of 0.28% of all greenhouse gases. This “treaty” is just BS.
@Turkey13 I work with livestock all of the time, and if some things don’t change then a 33% increase in food prices is gonna look good. If ethanol isn‘t killed and if the government doesn’t back off a bit more then we are screwed. Say hello to the most expensive glass of milk you’ve ever had.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 1:41pmBUCK SHANE
Here is a link : http://sadhillnews.com/2011/06/08/china-to-build-50-square-mile-self-sustaining-city-near-boise-idaho
I aquired this by Googling : ‘self sustaining’ city and manufacturing center
sixteen million links………………
Report Post »Postolic
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 1:42pmsmithclar3nc3 – You’re right about the limitations on entering into an internation treaty. However, that did not stop President Clinton from instituting regulations that complied with the Kyoto Accords. Unless the Republicans in Congress get some backbone, nothing will stop this Regime from doing the same with this new accord, at least until 2012.
Report Post »Lotus503
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 1:53pmThey can agree to all they want…but it will neeever make it though Congress. They’re dreaming if they think it will…
Report Post »texasfarmer
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 1:55pmTreebaggers!!! I like that.
Report Post »Buck Shane
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 2:28pm@ Stoic one
Report Post »Thank you for the link.
Here is a question. Why do the Americans who are here want any immigration? How does bringing in more people either legally of illegally benefit the people who are here? If we bring in people with special knowledge, I can understand. But otherwise, we are overpopulating our country and we are all poorer because increased population equals increase pollution and decreased open land.
The politicians want immigration. Why do we?
Our ancestors came here to be Americans. We are now bring in people who hate us. What’s wrong with us?
Walkabout
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 2:50pm“The bad news is that we did very little here to affect the emissions curve which is accelerating..”
- Alden Meyer, of the Washington-based Union of Concerned Scientists
Can I believe it when the super wealthy jet off to Marthas Vineyard to be with Obama. What is the footprint of the normal joe compared one of Obama’s fellow partiers?
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 2:52pmRuler4You
“I don‘t know how America could ’cut’ emissions any more. Every manufacturing job we had is now over seas. ”
It is worse than that. According to the left we are still liable for the emissions of the factories in China because we consume the products that come from them.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 6:56pm… If I hit these ‘scientist’s’ in the head with a baseball bat it would change their minds … into a bloody pile of slop sliding down the wall. Nobody enters into ANY deals without the permission of the AMERICAN PEOPLE!!!!! STARTING RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!
Report Post »MilitaryDad
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:36am@Stoic One… I see the word ‘Satire’ in the page’s banner…
Report Post »alina.bolero
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:19amI’m soooo fed up with these “warming zeolots” and their cult religion acting as a facade for wealth theivery on a global scale.
Report Post »PApeacemaker
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 1:47pmIts time to start rounding them up & “dealing” with them. No one would miss them anyways. Save your country beat a hippie
Report Post »NoRoomForSocialismHere
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 6:11pmAmen Peacemaker, I am buying some bats along with plenty of LEAD and practice
Report Post »WAKEUPUSA2012
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:15amwe can all come together and say GTFO you green FREAKS
Report Post »Alvin691
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:14amGet on your Senators NOW. This shall not pass.
Report Post »stickandtwig.com
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:12amIt is a violation of the Social Contract that is the U.S. Constitution to enter into any agreement which cedes U.S. sovereignty to a foreign power.
This story represents an effective attack against the People of the U.S. by its own government, thus bringing our current govt. under the condemnation of Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:29amThis and fifty other things.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 12:06pmcouldn’t agree more. this violates so many of our freedoms and our constitution. the overwhelming stupidity of our government becomes more apparent every day
Report Post »thekuligs
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:12amNormally I’d be angered by this… but since I don’t think that the world will look the same in 2020 who cares.
Report Post »A Conservatarian
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 2:47pmI doubt hugging trees will be on the agenda in 2020; we’ve some real fun times ahead of us.
Report Post »Kaysguy
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:11amIt takes a two thirds vote of the Senate to ratify a treaty. This thing is DOA.
Report Post »honestynow
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 7:52pmWe must hope and pray!
Report Post »1773patriot
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:10amFortunately, any treaty must be ratified by Congress. This piece of garbage from the UN, and agreed to by a representative sent by Obama, will never be ratified by Congress… no matter how much Obama wants it. This is just one more reason to make sure you VOTE in 2012! If you give absolute power back to the Democrats, they will find a way to ram this abomination through (just like they rammed Obamacare through).
Report Post »texasfireguy
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:18amAmen, I would vote for a old shoe in 2012 before Obama. We are beyond screwed if he gets re-elected.
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:44am@texas
unfortunatly alot of the gop guys have been and will go back to their globalist views if elected.
Ron Paul 2012. He is getting my vote regardless.
Report Post »dsm
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:04amGlobal warming is the biggest and most corupt movement on this planet. There has been enough evidence to clearly show that global warming is hoax.. Several companies and individuals all over the world are getting rich becxause of this hoax
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:07amIncluding the Marxist in Chief
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:14amAnd guess what, Newt Gingrich loves his global warming scheme so he can rape the taxpayers for more cash like he did at Freddie Mac.
Just refuse and tell them to kiss your rear end when the Green Police come to force you to recycle and adjust your thermostat, etc.
When I say refuse, that means, resist, with force if neccessary.
Report Post »SDmom
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:47amDuring the 70′s, the big scare was an ice age. I remember reading about it in the Weekly Reader, and worrying about what might happen. Then it was global warming and my kids were reading about that in the Weekly Reader. Now it’s just climate change, like that has never happened before. Let me tell you what climate change does….it melted the glaciers that used sit where we farm, and now we feed the world.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:04amOne world religion,setting the stand for the Antichrist.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:09amEven the pope is praying for a one world gov’t and monetary supply. What does that say about Catholicism?
Report Post »texasfireguy
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:18amAny chance to take a swipe at the catholic church. Classy.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 3:11pmSgtB
One world government is not a bad thing.
What makes it good or bad is its’ laws & how we get there.
A good way to get there is via a plebiscite (& not just 51% majority rule).
A good way to get there is honesty. Greece lied its’ way into the EU. It’s stated finances were a lie.
A good way to get there is to have mutually agreeable laws before a merger of any two political bodies. The laws should be more or less the same & they should not become harmonius through threats or cajoling. France tried to cajole Iceland to raise its;‘ tax rate instead of France lowering its’ tax rate.
I like the Pope. He is seeing things at a high level. & not looking at the details of implementation which is a bad thing.
Report Post »NewLife56
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:04amThis is simply amazing. I miss the Untied States Of America. Welcome to the USSA United Socialist States of America
Report Post »OhioRifleman
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:18amMore like USSE – United Socialist States of Earth.
Corruption makes justice look like insanity.
Report Post »TheWormTurned
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:03amI thought the US Senate had to ratify all foreign treaties (by a 2/3 vote). This treaty may be agreed to, but it is far from “signed” and enforceable.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:09amIt’s a toothless agreement. It has no binding power and will be ignored or outright thrown out particuarly once Obama is thrown out of office in 2012.
Report Post »slickmeister
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:13amHope you’re right, but with Barry O’Bummer in the White House, he can simply notify his agencies to begin complying with this new “law”.
What’s the Senate going to do?
Report Post »West Coast Patriot
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:55amDon’t forget Harry Reid!!!
Report Post »dnewton
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 3:16pmThat may be true but, many states and cities put local governments at work to comply with Kyoto accords even if the Federal Government did not sign it. This was mostly on the West Coast but I read about it in Scientific American circa 2005. This policy can be implemented piecemeal under a different name, like Kyoto, and most people won’t even notice it until, like California, they go bankrupt. There is a large group of radicals out there ready to go to public meetings to propose or demand green energy policies to save Mother Earth from the tipping point. I think she has been tipping green Kool-Aid.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 6:09pmObama ought to be impeached if he has attempted to commit the USA to a treaty NOT ratified by Congress!
Report Post »streetrodder
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:03amThe next president should get the U.S. out of the UN and throw the UN out of the US.
Report Post »hadenoughinpa
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 12:49pmI agree a total waste of our money get out UN go to another country TEA
Report Post »freeweever
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:00amGet out of our country you losers of the world. Your envy is a disgrace, your attempt to elevate yourself by killing the American dream and its people is obvious, and disgusting… as well as are you.
You are a un-evolved human who has gone astray from nature and should be aborted.
I know this is a very bad thing to say but if you think about what they want to do to America and how many people could die from the collapse of this country, then why is their well intentioned murder of innocent Americans thru their progressive anti-American policies not a million times worse than anything I could say of them. Touche!
Report Post »majasdad
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 6:20pmGood God, your ignorance makes you totally irrelevant bro,
I can’t believe how many morons there are on this site.
Report Post »Oraclevoiceofreason
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:59amThis stuff make me nuts !!!! and we , as a nation, are crazy to be influenced by this nut jobs. DO NOT sign it – IF we as a nation believe that we need to IMPROVE our products to decrease emissions becasue we want cleaner air ( no climate change BS ) then lets do it but not because “the world” lies to us and blackmails us into participtaing. If God/nature wants the climate to change IT WILL – not because we drive cars and use fossil fuel.
Report Post »djmaine
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:58amChina is winning it’s war to bankrupt our country. Then what form of government will exist to protect and fight for the human inalienable rights? Certainly not a communist world leader. This eco madness is nothing but a front to exterminate the concept of freedom. We can’t afford this people! Is the human condition on the course to become an ant farm full of drones? Government is not the answer. Freedom is.
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:11amYes! Check this out on freedom…
Report Post »http://youtu.be/7kqVZUCRth0?t=18m37s
IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:17amAgreed. And UN Agenda 21 – putting the template in place (under the guise of “green”) for the new world order.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:57amRemember folks, it’s unpatriotic to not pay taxes to keep feeding this. Yep.
Report Post »Countrygirl1362
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:56amI thought Congress made the laws in this country? Why are we allowing others to dictate the laws for this country?
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:55amIf elected, the Republican had better reverse this stupidity. Quite frankly, one can not trust Gingrich on this issue.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:05amCan’t trust Newt with ya wife neither.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:15amSMACKDOWN…please stop insulting everyone’s intelligence here. NO GOP CANDIDATE will enact cap and trade or ratify this toothless treaty. None of them. I dont’ know how much clearer I can make that for you. Gingrich’s ad with Pelosi was not tailored for conservatives it was for independents and pure theater and symbolism. Gingrich has made it clear today that he will not seek any form and cap and trade..I believe him or he can be shown the door in 2016 if he attempts it. He’s not an idiot. He knows cap and trade is DOA with his voting base and most of the American people. Get better material SMACKDOWN.
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:49am@Avengerk
You cannot honestly think Gingrich is the right guy for the job. The guy is horrible, he is worst than Mccain. Trust me a vote for Gingrich is a vote for Obama. They are one in the same and could be running together on a ticket.
Here is a forum link on Newt’s record. Check it out, fact check it and know, Newt is not who he says he is.
Report Post »http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?329010-Comprehensive-list-of-Newt-Gingrich-positions
Brad
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 12:39pmInteresting Smokey. Can’t trust Obama with your sons, brothers and fathers either. The man has a thing for bros…
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:54amA TREATY without the consent of the Entire Congress is a TREASON against “We the people”!
Report Post »Vickie Dhaene
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 3:05pmYour absolutely right. Since when do we follow the dictate of the United Nations?
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:53amThe Kyoto Protocol = Epic failure. So lets do it again! Insanity.
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:53amActually, this is a direct threat to our constitution. Since BHO took an oath to UPHOLD AND DEFEND our constitution – and has now VIOLATED IT (once again) he should be impeached.
Report Post »honestynow
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 7:52pmExactly. We are losing our national sovereignty.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:52amThis is a dangerous myth that needs to be stopped.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:58amNothing but another way to control We the People…. control the energy and food .. control the people.
TEA!
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:08ambullet number one on the Georgia Guide-stones. What does it read and why does it matter?
Report Post »Brad
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 12:05pmExactly Mandors, This is the Communist of the United Nations on the move against the West, and there are “so-called Americans” like Obama, Gore, and anyone else trying to enforce “Sustainable Development” on the local cities, in YOUR community. Beware in Agenda 21 and join with a growing population gearing up to fight the traitors in our country. It’s criminal!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Green-Agenda/264100833636368
Report Post »Brad
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 12:08pmIf you have face book, write to us at “The Green Agenda”, and we’ll be happy to discuss with you how you can join the fight. We are NOT asking for money…only your involvement and to educate you as to what needs to be done. This is SERIOUS! People need to wake up…
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:52amGreat. What’s this going to cost an already broke United States of America?
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:50amFools. All I can. Fools.
Report Post »