Climate Accord In Hand, Obama Turns To Senate

Obama returned from the U.N. Climate Conference in Copenhagen to discuss with the Senate a bill that will reduce carbon emissions and increase jobs in new companies. The president felt he was very successful in Copenhagen stating that, "...the world's major economies have come together to accept their responsibility to take action to confront the threat of climate change." The meeting was successful in that the countries represented in the gathering were focused on what could be done for the environment within their country. There were no contracts or legal papers signed. The United Nations decided to set goals such as cut carbon emissions by 2050 and create a fund to aid poor nations that have been affected by global warming. This gathering in Copenhagen is viewed by the president as the first step in organizing the nations around the world to come together and work as a team in solving this dilemma.

Many are unsatisfied with the conference because it does not address the reducing of deforestation and protecting the world's rainforests. According to the article, "Burning trees to clear land for plantations or cattle ranches and logging forests for wood is blamed for about 15 percent of the world's emissions — or as much carbon dioxide as all the world's cars, trucks, trains, planes and ships combined." Logging is a tricky issue to deal with since it involves the losing of jobs for lumberman and cattle ranchers. What other options are there for these people? How else will they earn a living and provide for their families?

For now the answer is uncertain. Once the health care bill is finalized, more attention will be drawn to the fate of the planet.

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