What is a non-binding, tentative agreement?
September 8th 2007 02:02
Well all those who have been holding their breath for a Climate Change solution to be presented at APEC, Johnny hasn't let you down. As we speak we are on the verge of having a non-binding tentative agreement to first reduce Carbon emissions and then miraculously reverse Climate Change altogether. Now don't get me wrong, I would welcome any real progress but what the hell does a tentative, non-binding agreement mean?
The cynic in me which I so desperately try to suppress says it is a great way of grabbing a headline to please 86% of the population coming into an election but really doesn't mean much at all. To our credit we have at least acknowledged that the UN is the Forum for formal Climate Change discussions in November but that hasn't stopped us claiming all sorts of victories as a Nation on Climate Change diplomacy; anyone who has been following the issue knows we are ashamedly behind the 8 ball.
Realistically any "tentative" agreement signed on our shores really does not mean a great deal other than feel good headlines and successfully removing the thorn from johnny howard's side in the upcoming election. Sure it all looks good on paper, a 25% reduction of "energy intensity" by 2030 and an acknowledgement of our responsibilities to reduce Carbon emissions at the UN conference in November but it is hardly radical. I guess I should be grateful and see it as a small step to the US paying ball with India and China in Bali in November but let's not be fooled into thinking the problem has been solved by Johhny and the boys in a one day meeting at APEC. We still have a long way to go for this issue to be solved and it has to be doen with the entire world on the same page.
cheers
Louie
The cynic in me which I so desperately try to suppress says it is a great way of grabbing a headline to please 86% of the population coming into an election but really doesn't mean much at all. To our credit we have at least acknowledged that the UN is the Forum for formal Climate Change discussions in November but that hasn't stopped us claiming all sorts of victories as a Nation on Climate Change diplomacy; anyone who has been following the issue knows we are ashamedly behind the 8 ball.
Realistically any "tentative" agreement signed on our shores really does not mean a great deal other than feel good headlines and successfully removing the thorn from johnny howard's side in the upcoming election. Sure it all looks good on paper, a 25% reduction of "energy intensity" by 2030 and an acknowledgement of our responsibilities to reduce Carbon emissions at the UN conference in November but it is hardly radical. I guess I should be grateful and see it as a small step to the US paying ball with India and China in Bali in November but let's not be fooled into thinking the problem has been solved by Johhny and the boys in a one day meeting at APEC. We still have a long way to go for this issue to be solved and it has to be doen with the entire world on the same page.
cheers
Louie
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Let's see--a "non-binding, tentative agreement" falls under the same category as " almost certain" and "probably will", doesn't it?