“We really have to have in place across the industrialised world the agreements and the measures that are going to enable us to peak [global emissions] no later than 2015 … and if you want those things to be in place no later than 2012, we really should get it done in Copenhagen. That’s the schedule.”

John Holdren, on leave from the Belfer Center’s board of directors to serve as assistant to the president for science and technology and director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, was quoted in “US is a Dead Weight on Copenhagen Talks, Pulling Down Ambition ever Lower,” which the Guardian published on November 17, 2009.

For the full article, go to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/cif-green/2009/nov/17/us-copenhagen-barack-obama

Arena Digest: Copenhagen
Politico.com
November 17
Quoted: Stephen Walt, Belfer Center
Topic: Upcoming climate talks in Copenhagen

POLITICO’s Arena contributors discuss how big a deal it is that there will be no big deal at Copenhagen. …

Stephen M. Walt, professor, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

“The failure to achieve a ‘big deal’ at Copenhagen is not a big deal in itself because this outcome was recognized a while ago, and expectations had been suitably lowered. Addressing climate change remains a compelling priority, however, and Obama’s main goal now should be to maintain momentum for a ‘big deal’ in the not too distant future. Remember: The longer we wait, the harder the adjustments will be.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29576.html

Sino-US climate talks helpful, but too late for Copenhagen
Xinhua (China)
November 14
Quoted: Robert Stavins
Topic: China-U.S. climate negotiations

Sino-U.S. exchanges on climate issues will boost global negotiations in the long run, but are unlikely to facilitate a substantial climate change deal at Copenhagen talks in December, say experts in the run-up to U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to China. …

Robert Stavins, director of the Harvard Project on International Climate Agreements, said the meeting of Hu and Obama would certainly facilitate mutual understanding on climate change issues. …

But it appeared that U.S. Congress was unlikely to complete climate legislation by the time of Copenhagen, due to great political challenges in the midst of a recession with high unemployment and other domestic priorities, Stavins told Xinhua in an e-mail interview.

“There have been dramatic changes in the political climate for climate change policy in the U.S. since President Obama took office. The timing, however, is difficult for Copenhagen,” Stavins said.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-11/14/content_12455539.htm

“It’s important to think about a strategy of reaching out to all interested groups and really engage before, during, and post-Copenhagen.”

-Paula Dobriansky, Belfer Center senior fellow

http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/cs_20091031_7714.php

“If they don’t start doing that this week, it’s hard to imagine being able to have enough time to get through all the contentious issues and come out of Copenhagen with an agreement.”

Kelly Sims Gallagher, a member of the Belfer Center’s board of directors, was interviewed in “Clock Is Ticking on Copenhagen Climate Treaty,” which NPR’s “Morning Edition” aired on September 22, 2009.

For the full interview, go to: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113036276
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Gallagher was also interviewed in “Climate Change Meeting,” which PRI’s “The World” aired on September 22, 2009.

For the full interview, go to: http://www.theworld.org/2009/09/22/climate-change-meeting/