So Kyoto will be extended but be restricted to Europe. In the meantime most other countries have their Copenhagen pledges to fulfill. Negotiations will proceed to agree a global treaty with "legal force" (whatever that means) by 2015 to come into force in 2020.
This is good, assuming things stay on track because we know that China needs to peak emissions by at least 2020.
I'm not too concerned about whether countries' commitments would limit climate change to 3.5C or 2C. The main thing is to continue the momentum that will foster the innovation that will solve this problem at a reasonable cost. We are seeing this technological change happening in a significant way.
David, you said (1) "The main thing is to continue the momentum that will foster the innovation that will solve this problem at a reasonable cost."
ReplyDeleteThe only reasonable cost for adoption of renewables is one that is less without subsidy than the tax-free cost of coal or gas thermal energy.
(2)"We are seeing this technological change happening in a significant way". Where? All the evidence I have seen is that solar PV requires a carbon tax of over $600 to be competitive with coal, and that wind requires $75-150. Those technologies have some way to go! - and will always require coal/gas back-up unless your technlogis can control the wind and deliver sunlight at night!