Barack Obama’s speech sounded more like an irresistible offer than an attempt to search agreement. Between the lines in which the president called for collective action one could read a demand for a greater involvement on the part of China. President admitted that America is partially responsible for climate change, but he also reminded that now the United States is the second, in other words not the first, emitter of greenhouse gases. The plan of the United States to adopt a reduction target of 17% below 2005 levels was supposed to convince the audience about its ambitious position. However, President Obama forgot to mention that it means only 3 percent below 1990 levels.
It was commented upon that this speech was supposed to be face-saving for Mr. Obama and to instruct other parties in the negotiations what to do. Nevertheless, a real leadership was missing. President Obama did not try to unite all the nations in order to save the world from a climate disaster. The United States committed only to allocate financial funds to fight climate change in developing countries, provided that other developed countries join in, too.
“The speech of President Obama was not a breakthrough that we are looking for,” said Zbigniew Karaczun from Climate Coalition. “The position of the United States looks particularly grim when contrasted with the declaration of the president of Brazil, Lula da Silva, who stated that Brazil - in spite of being a developing country - would not wait for other countries, but it would reduce its emissions on its own and would be of financial assistance to other developing countries. Such declarations are needed for the summit to be successful.”