WWF's Keya Chatterjee: "How is the United States going to stand behind these commitments?"

Keya Chatterjee, Acting Director, Climate Change Program, reacts  to President Obama's speech just after noon on Friday, 18 December 2009, at the international climate negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark.  “What we did not hear today was how – how is the United States going to stand behind these commitments?” She adds that “we really need to hear from the President that this is going to be a legislative priority for him.” 

Hear Keya's full remarks in the video below.

Chatterjee conveys specific assurances still needed from President Obama:

1. How will the U.S. stand behind its emission reduction commitments?

In President Obama’s Copenhagen speech, he said he would act and stand behind commitments but it is unclear how. “The last time the U.S. put forth numbers and promised to act on climate change, we didn’t follow through; we didn’t join the treaty…We really need to hear from the President that this is going to be a legislative priority for him…that he is going to put his full weight behind making sure that this is a priority and that climate legislation in the U.S. passes as quickly as possible and is prioritized immediately after healthcare legislation,” stated Chatterjee.

2. Current emission pledges are not enough to ensure the survival of the most vulnerable people and ecosystems. How will the U.S. contribute to filling this gap?

Chatterjee stated, “How are we going to make up that difference…every country needs to do more than they thought they were going to do because the pledges put forward simply aren’t enough. We are waiting to hear from the President how we are going to close that gap? What are the additional reductions we can get in addition to the legislation?”

3. Agreement needs to be legally binding and a treaty with treaty language, not merely a political agreement.
4. Need a commitment initiating a quick science review (tied to IPCC—international scientific body for climate change) to assess whether country emission pledges are sufficient for averting dangerous climate impacts. As Chatterjee puts it, this assessment “can tell us whether or not we’re on track” and what additional reductions are necessary.

Online Resources:

• WWF Statement on President Obama's Speech at Copenhagen Climate Summit.  As talks enter critical final hour, WWF stresses “Fierce Urgency of Now”
• President Obama in Copenhagen: "We must choose action over inaction" . In remarks today (18 December 2009) at the summit on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark, President Obama said "it’s time for the nations and people of the world to come together behind a common purpose. We must choose action over inaction; the future over the past — with courage and faith, let us meet our responsibility to our people, and to the future of our planet."