Position of US

Increasing involvement of US

While United States are one of the main and most important players in the climate change negotiations they have signed only the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change which is the most universally supported treaty on climate change and oppose to the ratification of Kyoto Protocol. Some US representatives refer to the lack of Global Warming legislation in the county which is slowing down all the process.

Enablers:

1. Strong political will.
2. Increasing public pressure inside the country.
3. Changes in business practices.
4. Improvement of alternative energy sources/development ("green") of energy industry.

Inhibitors:

1. Dependency on fossil fuels.
2. Strong business lobbies (especially for fossil based industries)
3. Being producer of oil and coal.

Paradigms:

US can lead other nations in Climate Change negotiations as a country which is highly economically, industrially and technologically developed. It can offer innovative solutions to address the Global Warming problem.

Experts:

1. Todd D. Stern - top U.S. climate negotiator.

Timing:

• 1997 - in terms of UFCCC US agreed to reduce emissions of 7% during 2008-2012.
  
• July 2000 - European Parliament accused US of being non-cooperative because George Bush stated that he will oppose Kyoto Protocol.
  
• December 2007 - Lieberman-Warner bill introduced in the senate.
• June 6, 2008 - Lieberman-Warner bill ultimately stopped by Republicans.
• June 2009 - American Clean Energy and Security Act aka Waxman-Markey bill passed by the full House.
• 2009 - in terms of Copenhagen conference Barak Obama made speech that was disappointing to observers and did not bring anything new into negotitions.
  
• November 5, 2009 - Kerry-Boxer bill passed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Web Resources:

http://www.globalissues.org/article/179/reactions-to-climate-change-negotiations-and-action
http://www.globalissues.org/article/521/un-framework-convention-on-climate-change
http://unfccc.int/2860.php
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=todd-stern-climate-change-special-envoy-copenhagen
http://www.environbusiness.com/CChange/Kyoto.html
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/09/climate_myth_fact.html
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2001/2001-07-06-03.asp
http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2159
http://www.govtrackinsider.com/articles/2010-04-27/climate-change