Though the technological and engineering challenges facing CCS remain formidable, the political and economic challenges are arguably more daunting. Implementing an effective climate change mitigation program requires the concerted movements of government, business, and populace, with actions from the latter two almost certainly following in response to the former. However, in the domestic realm, the acceptance of climate change alone garners much resistance from the Republican Party. In fact, a quick glance at the Republican presidential candidates, including Rick Perry, Hermann Cain, Newt Gingrich, Michelle Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, reveals that most view climate change as a hoax. Only Romney and Huntsman consistently acknowledge the existence of climate change, and only Huntsman attempts to address possible carbon mitigation policies (1). The Democratic Party, specifically the Obama administration, fares little better. The current presidency aims to not only push back goals for emission cuts but also to reduce the severity of those cuts (2). Combined with a stagnant economy and split government, it seems little will be done about climate change in the U.S. for now.
Internationally, the landscape appears to be only slightly more promising. Ongoing negotiations at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa aim for the creation of legally binding carbon-mitigation legislation. Though countries in the E.U. as well as Australia, Norway, and Switzerland support the continuation of emission cuts from the Kyoto Protocol, others, such as Japan, Russia, and Canada, do not (3, 4). China’s intentions remain unclear, while the U.S. is hindering the negotiations of an international fund aimed at helping poorer countries with carbon mitigation. Negotiations continue, with the eventual outcome unclear. _
References 1. Hurst, Timothy. Republican Presidential Candidates on Climate Change. Ecopolitology. Aug 22, 2011. http://ecopolitology.org/2011/08/22/republican-presidential-candidates-on-climate-change/ (Accessed Dec 5, 2011). 2. Garman, Joss. Obama is Days Away From Killing Talks on a Climate Deal. Huffington Post. Dec 4, 2011. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joss-garman/obama-climate-change_b_1127748.html (Accessed Dec 5, 2011). 3. Black, Richard. UN Climate Talks Looking to China. BBC News. Dec 5, 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16034826 (Accessed Dec 5, 2011). 4. Walsh, Bryan. The Science is Bad on Carbon Emissions, The Politics are Worse. Time. Dec 5, 2011. http://ecocentric.blogs.time.com/2011/12/05/the-science-is-bad-on-carbon-emissions-the-politics-are-worse/ (Accessed Dec 5, 2011). |