One of the things I love about the US is the stunning accuracy of weather forecasting. That might sound geeky, but honestly they can tell you to the minute what is coming your way. The advantages of a big continent I guess. We had ran in the midwest today, autumn has arrived.
Meanwhile in New York today the folks behind Yes Men have issued up to a million fake copies of the New York Post to highlight the importance of action on climate change at a string of meetings in US in next week or so (G20, UN) and leading up to Copenhagen. This stuff matters on the East Coast. Everywhere we went in Washington DC climate change was the order of the day (just behind healthcare and Kanye West). Obama kicked off with the Green jobs package, and there is massive work going on in terms of renewable energy research, vehicle emission standards and incentives for green building development.
In terms of the international negotiations it looks like a US position with numbers and dates and targets is unlikely before December given the need to get agreement in the Senate, and vested interests having their say. On the positive side many believe that the US would be in a position to talk about the ‘architecture’ of a post Kyoto agreement, and serious bilateral discussions had already taken place with China and India in this regard.
In Iowa there is contrast. Today we visited a huge plant that produces millions of litres of ethanol a week. Part of the American response to climate change? Well, maybe, except that the plant runs on coal, tonnes of the stuff. They are looking at alternatives but for now they go on with the coal. To be fair others are interested and some farmers noted they were happy with a voluntary market based mechanism to deal with climate change, but more traditional economic issues dominate.
Maybe in a country as big as this it is impossible to get people on the same page, but the problem with an issue like climate change of course is that it requires change and adaptation from everyone if it is going to be addressed. And they don’t get (in all respects) the New York Post in these parts.
“Maybe in a country as big as this it is impossible to get people on the same page.” Grant, I think you are beginning to understand the USA!
I hope their plan includes cheap electric cars.