New draft emerges at Paris climate, leaving fundamental disputes

The planet is on the edge of catastrophic climate change, a warming of the globe that is already creating a mind-boggling array of human suffering.

“I am convinced that we are going to get big things done here”.

When it comes to Paris specifically, Americans overwhelmingly support action, but again, below the levels of other countries – 69 percent said they support limiting greenhouse gas emissions as part of a deal, but about a quarter oppose that.

The president responded to a question about whether a GOP president might scuttle a global climate change agreement, should diplomats strike one during their talks in Paris. India, after being overshadowed by global Chinese commitments, unveiled a global alliance on solar energy as the solution towards carbon free development during Narendra Modi’s speech, with New Delhi committing to the investment to set up a global secretariat for the new group. The goals call for the corporations to reduce emissions by as much as 50 percent, cut their water usage by 80 percent, and buy 100 percent renewable energy.

He plans to provide billions of dollars into basic energy research over the next five years. Some of the nations involved in the meeting – Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, St. Lucia, Barbados and Papua New Guinea – “could disappear entirely, and, as weather patterns change, we might deal with tens of millions of climate refugees in the Asia Pacific region”, Obama said.

“I’m an island boy”, Obama said, referring to his childhood spent in Hawaii and Indonesia.

Inhofe and a group of senators introduced a non-binding resolution that says the USA can not sign onto any deal with the consent of Congress. Congress would not likely approve any interntional deal if it were made subject to a vote.

In a wide-ranging press conference on Tuesday before heading back to Washington, Obama said he thinks the conference will succeed.

Several heads of government attending the United Nations climate summit Monday endorsed action to protect and restore forests.

Colombia also announced that it will implement its plans for so-called “green growth” with the help of Britain, Germany, and Norway.

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, one of the most prominent advocates in the fight for global warming, made the rounds Thursday, mostly talking business and China.

“Whoever is the next president of the United States, if they come in and they suggest somehow that that global consensus, not just 99.5% of scientists and experts, but 99% of world leaders, think this is really important”, he said.

It is expected that the world would give audience to Beijing’s proposals, attach importance to China’s contribution, jointly making Paris climate change conference to produce ambitious and successful outcomes.

Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., said it was regrettable that Republicans were trying to block the power-plant rules even as officials from more than 190 almost countries and numerous world’s largest private companies gathered in Paris to work out details of a global agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

What the developed countries have done, however, is far from reaching its promised target.

Donald Trump said this week that Obama’s assertions about the climate threat are among the “dumbest statements” in politics.

The United States, China and India account for about half of the world’s emissions of carbon dioxide, a gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and that scientists have identified as a leading cause of the rising global temperatures.