Back in the USA

Back in the USA - still in the glow of the many candles lighting the city of Copenhagen and the warm welcome we received. The joy of the season, our annual Solstice bonfire and party, welcoming back the sun, the family Christmas in Vermont has given me further resolve to lower my carbon footprint and work towards encouraging others to get involved in the effort to reverse the adverse effects of climate change for all the worlds’ kids and grand kids.

While HOPENHAGEN created an atmosphere of optimism and encouragement, to quote President Obama, COP 15 was, ”Less than many had hoped,” and we will need to redouble our efforts here in convincing Congress to pass meaningful climate legislation.

The last picture I took at the airport before boarding the plane - first stop Iceland - was the poster of the Danish Prime Minister apologizing for the lack of success, courtesy of the NGO tcktcktck.

The oft quoted, “legislation is like sausage making” doesn’t hold a candle to making agreements among 192 countries of the world that have their own “special interests”.

Countries agreed by consensus on a compromise to "take note" of the Copenhagen Accord, instead of formally approving it which calls for reducing emissions to keep temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels.

Next steps will include:
Emission targets must be submitted by 1-31-2010
with no legal obligation, richer nations will finance a $10 billion-a-year, three-year program to fund poorer nations' projects to develop clean energy
Mobilize $100 billion a year by 2020 for the same adaptation and mitigation purposes

Give a gift to the Planet your children and grandchildren by cutting your carbon footprint in 2010. All our friends from around the world deserve Climate Justice. You can help those in the developing, low lying countries and Pacific islands by becoming more energy efficient.

Best Wishes for the New Year!