Center for American Progress

Statement by Podesta: Obama’s Copenhagen Decision a “Game Changer”
Press Statement

Statement by Podesta: Obama’s Copenhagen Decision a “Game Changer”

President Obama’s decision to commit the US to a global climate assistance fund for developing countries and to go to Copenhagen on December 18th is a game changer.

After the President’s trip to Beijing and the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to the White House, subsequent commitments to reduce carbon intensity by both China and India have produced a burst of momentum in advance of next week’s UN summit in Copenhagen.

Since January this administration has demonstrated its commitment time and time again to rejoin the community of nations on the most critical of global problems. Every step of the way naysayers have pounced on advances as insufficient proof of a real commitment. The announcement this afternoon demonstrates the Administration’s resolve to address the perils of global warming, evidenced by our best science, and the moral importance of taking the necessary steps to live up to our global obligations.

###