On opposite sides of the Pacific, leaders of the world’s two biggest carbon polluters are plainly thinking about clean energy to power up their economies and cool the climate.

In Washington, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced their intention to extend vehicle efficiency standards that went into effect in April in order meet a national goal of 60 miles per gallon average fuel economy by 2025.

President Obama, in an interview in Rolling Stone magazine promised to keep pushing the clean energy and climate action envelope. And in his Saturday national radio address, the president attacked the Republican campaign plan to scrap clean energy incentives.  “We can go back to the failed energy policies that profited the oil companies but weakened our country,” the president said. “We can go back to the days when promising industries got set up overseas.  Or we can go after new jobs in growing industries.”

China’s first UN Climate Conference held at the Tianjin Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center (MJCEC) shown above.

Meanwhile in Tianjin, where China is hosting its first U.N. climate conference this week, Chinese officials also are touting clean energy initiatives. They include mandatory building standards established five years ago that are lowering energy demand, new offshore windfarms that supply as much power as big coal-fired power plants, new cities built on principles of energy efficiency and conservation, and a national commitment to lower the levels of carbon pouring into the atmosphere.

What distinguishes China from the United States is that there’s no political opposition getting in the way. China’s national policy vector is very plainly pointing in the direction of incorporating more clean energy technology, and energy efficient practices into its economy. The U.S. gear at the national level, with Republicans campaigning on a message attacking climate science, the Senate unable to act on a comprehensive bill, and investors unsettled by the roiled politics, is in danger of slipping into reverse if it hasn’t already done so.

What makes the countries similar, though, is how far each needs to go and what both countries are willing to do to really make a dent in reducing global carbon emissions. That, of course, has been the central issue confronting negotiators at UN climate meetings for several years, and it’s the single biggest issue in Tianjin.

Very briefly, while both nations are investing considerable sums in clean energy development, China and the U.S. also are tightly hugging the existing fossil fuel economy as essential to national stability and well-being. The consequences of that are considerable for the environment and the rest of the world.

The U.S. produces and burns 1 billion tons of coal annually, uses almost 7 billion barrels of oil, and last year produced 5.8 billion tons of carbon emissions. China meanwhile, according to state economic agencies, will mine and combust around 3.15 billion tons of coal this year, consume more than 3 billion barrels of oil, and produce around 6.3 billion tons of carbon emissions.

While U.S. energy demand and carbon emissions are slipping as a result of the Great Recession, China’s energy demand is soaring. By 2020 according to government projections, China will use 4.2 billion tons of coal – which accounts for 80 percent of its emissions.  And even if China meets its 40 to 45 percent reduction in “carbon intensity” by 2020, an analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council projects that China’s carbon emissions will essentially double by the end of the decade.

Tianjin climate negotiators, aware of the stakes and stymied by the pace, press ahead here to draw a bit closer to global agreements on financing for developing nations to pursue clean energy, conserving forests, reducing the effects of climate change, verification and transparency, and other issues. The annual global climate summit in Cancun, Mexico approaches at the end of November. The new UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Christiana Figueres, said yesterday there is a dire need to show the world’s citizens that the negotiations are making “visible progress.”

Essentially what she meant is that negotiators need to change the vector of a grim situation. She commended NGO groups for generating grassroots support, including 350.org, which is holding its Global Work Party on Saturday at thousands of sites in nearly 200 countries.

China’s energy demand is soaring. By 2020 according to government projections, China will use 4.2 billion tons of coal – which accounts for 80 percent of its emissions.

Indeed, there’s time, bushels of good ideas, and a tide of public will to act. The NRDC and Environment America calculated that reaching the 60 mile per gallon mileage standard in the U.S. by 2025  would save consumers $101 billion in 2030, cut oil use by roughly 1 billion barrels, and reduce heat-trapping carbon pollution by 470 million tons, the equivalent of taking nearly 70 million vehicles off the road.

And here in China, before the Tianjin climate meeting opened, leaders in the Guangzhou, the nation’s third largest city, said that they were spending $37 billion on 34 projects to reduce fuel consumption, increase energy efficiency, and lower climate emissions. The projects include advances in public transit, replacing low efficiency lighting with LED technology, and generating a sizable share of the city’s power with green energy sources.

Stay in touch with our coverage from the Tianjin climate meeting.

Keith Schneider, a journalist and producer, is senior writer for the U.S. Climate Action Network. Reach him at kschneider@climatenetwork.org

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October 5, 2010 In Tianjin, China and the U.S. Similarities Overshadow Differences On opposite sides of the Pacific, leaders of the world’s two biggest carbon polluters are plainly thinking about clean energy to power up their economies and cool the climate. In Washington, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced their intention to extend vehicle efficiency standards that went into effect in April in order meet a national goal of 60 miles per gallon average fuel economy by 2025. President Obama, in an interview in Rolling Stone magazine promised to keep pushing the clean energy and climate action envelope. And in his Saturday national radio address, the president attacked the Republican campaign plan to scrap clean energy incentives.  “We can go back to the failed energy policies that profited the oil companies but weakened our country,” the president said. “We can go back to the days when promising industries got set up overseas.  Or we can go after new jobs in growing industries.” Meanwhile in Tianjin, where China is hosting its first U.N. climate conference this week, Chinese officials also are touting clean energy initiatives. They include mandatory building standards established five years ago that are lowering energy demand, new offshore windfarms that supply as much power as big coal-fired power plants, new cities built on principles of energy efficiency and conservation, and a national commitment to lower the levels of carbon pouring into the atmosphere. What distinguishes China from the United States is that there’s no political opposition getting in the way. China’s national policy vector is very plainly pointing in the direction of incorporating more clean energy technology, and energy efficient practices into its economy. The U.S. gear at the national level, with Republicans campaigning on a message attacking climate science, the Senate unable to act on a comprehensive bill, and investors unsettled by the roiled politics, is in danger of slipping into reverse if it hasn’t already done so. What makes the countries similar, though, is how far each needs to go and what both countries are willing to do to really make a dent in reducing global carbon emissions. That, of course, has been the central issue confronting negotiators at UN climate meetings for several years, and it’s the single biggest issue in Tianjin. Very briefly, while both nations are investing considerable sums in clean energy development, China and the U.S. also are tightly hugging the existing fossil fuel economy as essential to national stability and well-being. The consequences of that are considerable for the environment and the rest of the world. The U.S. produces and burns 1 billion tons of coal annually, uses almost 7 billion barrels of oil, and last year produced 5.8 billion tons of carbon emissions. China meanwhile, according to state economic agencies, will mine and combust around 3.15 billion tons of coal this year, consume more than 3 billion barrels of oil, and produce around 6.3 billion tons of carbon emissions. While U.S. energy demand and carbon emissions are slipping as a result of the Great Recession, China’s energy demand is soaring. By 2020 according to government projections, China will use 4.2 billion tons of coal – which accounts for 80 percent of its emissions.  And even if China meets its 40 to 45 percent reduction in “carbon intensity” by 2020, an analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council projects that China’s carbon emissions will essentially double by the end of the decade. Tianjin climate negotiators, aware of the stakes and stymied by the pace, press ahead here to draw a bit closer to global agreements on financing for developing nations to pursue clean energy, conserving forests, reducing the effects of climate change, verification and transparency, and other issues. The annual global climate summit in Cancun, Mexico approaches at the end of November. The new UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Christiana Figueres, said yesterday there is a dire need to show the world’s citizens that the negotiations are making “visible progress.” Essentially what she meant is that negotiators need to change the vector of a grim situation. She commended NGO groups for generating grassroots support, including 350.org, which is holding its Global Work Party on Saturday at thousands of sites in nearly 200 countries. Indeed, there’s time, bushels of good ideas, and a tide of public will to act. The NRDC and Environment America calculated that reaching the 60 mile per gallon mileage standard in the U.S. by 2025  would save consumers $101 billion in 2030, cut oil use by roughly 1 billion barrels, and reduce heat-trapping carbon pollution by 470 million tons, the equivalent of taking nearly 70 million vehicles off the road. And here in China, before the Tianjin climate meeting opened, leaders in the Guangzhou, the nation’s third largest city, said that they were spending $37 billion on 34 projects to reduce fuel consumption, increase energy efficiency, and lower climate emissions. The projects include advances in public transit, replacing low efficiency lighting with LED technology, and generating a sizable share of the city’s power with green energy sources. Stay in touch with our coverage from the Tianjin climate meeting. Until next week, take care, Keith Schneider Carol Werner, Executive Director October 4, 2010 News Obama: Climate Bill Is Top Priority in 2011 Rockefeller: Bill to Delay EPA Regulations Cannot Overcome Presidential Veto EPA Set Back: Technology Advisory Panel in Gridlock Top US Science Advisor Receives Climate Adaptation Report 120 Health Groups Lobby for Regulation of Carbon Emissions Latino Groups Support EPA Carbon Regulation Climate Talks Could Lower Black Soot and Methane Emissions Cameron: October Competition to Jumpstart 10 Percent Carbon Cuts in First Year South Korea Requires Companies to Set Reduction Targets for 2011 Denmark On Path to be Fossil Fuel-Free by 2050 Report: Investors in Europe Still Deterred From Clean Energy Investment Rising CO2 Levels Reduce Shellfish Populations, Study Says Other Headlines Events October 7: Can Oil Production Meet Rising Global Demand? Obama: Climate Bill Is Top Priority in 2011 On September 17, President Barack Obama told Rolling Stone magazine that an energy and climate bill is one of his top priorities for 2011. “Our objective remains achieving the pollution reduction goals called for by recent legislative proposals,” Obama said in the interview. “Whether that happens bit by bit, sector by sector or in a more comprehensive way, we will engage in and support all meaningful efforts to get there.” Like other elected officials recently, Obama referred to a piece by piece strategy rather than a large comprehensive bill as a more probable scenario for bringing about significant legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Key Senate Democrats and Republicans agreed with the President on this strategy. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said she would be in favor of a bill similar to the one she introduced with Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) that auctions off all allowances for GHG emissions and returns revenues back to taxpayers. For additional information see: Rolling Stone, The Hill, New York Times, Politico Rockefeller: Bill to Delay EPA Regulations Cannot Overcome Presidential Veto On September 28, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) admitted that his proposed bill to delay the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for two years cannot overcome President Barack Obama’s promised veto. In a statement to reporters, Rockefeller said, “The president will probably veto it and so it wouldn’t have any force.” However, the senator said it was still important to send the “message” that he can get 60 votes for the bill. Rockefeller maintained that he wants a vote on his bill before the end of the lame duck session and believes that it will happen, given that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) privately assured him a vote. For additional information see: The Hill, Politico EPA Set Back: Technology Advisory Panel in Gridlock On September 28, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) learned that its Climate Change Work Group – an advisory panel formed to determine the best available technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – is still gridlocked over what is the best available technology, amidst many choices, to recommend to the agency. The work group, formed in October 2009, consists of representatives from utility companies, national environmental groups and state regulatory agencies. The EPA will now make the technical assessments internally and move forward with its plan to regulate GHG emissions under the Clean Air Act. However, this development represents yet another obstacle for the agency. EPA’s plans are being challenged at this moment in federal court. Similarly, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) is pushing a bill that would place a two year suspension on the agency’s ability to regulate GHG emissions. For additional information see: Bloomberg Top US Science Advisor Receives Climate Adaptation Report On September 28, representatives of the National Climate Adaption Summit unveiled a report to the President’s Science and Technology Advisor, Dr. John Holdren, on national and regional preparations for adaptation to climate change. The report stressed the importance of integrating federal climate programs, coordination among regional governments, and more funding for research on climate impacts. Further, the report discussed creating a federal climate information portal that would compile data from all relevant agencies in one accessible location, which would evolve over time into a more “national” portal with information about relevant non-federal climate efforts. The Summit report identified seven priorities for near-term action. It states that the United States must adapt to an already changing climate and prepare for increasing impacts on urban infrastructure, food, water, human health, and ecosystem in the coming decades. For additional information see: Nature Press Release 120 Health Groups Lobby for Regulation of Carbon Emissions On September 28, 120 of America’s top public health organizations and experts sent a joint letter to Congress and the White House to urge lawmakers to address climate change. The joint letter stated, “As public health professionals, we are writing to urge you to recognize the threat to public health posed by climate change and to support measures that will reduce these risks and strengthen the ability of our local, state and federal public health agencies to prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change.” The letter specifically lobbied to preserve the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and was endorsed by prominent health organizations, including the American College of Preventive Medicine, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Lung Association and the American Medical Association, as well as many others. For additional information see: Letter, APHA Press Release, The Hill Latino Groups Support EPA Carbon Regulation On September 29, leading national Latino organizations sent a letter to Congress to lobby against legislation that would block the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to regulate greenhouse (GHG) gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Rising temperatures due to GHG emissions have been shown to increase ground level ozone formations, a primary contributor to asthma and other respiratory diseases that are increasingly prevalent in Latino communities. The joint letter stated, “Acknowledging that global warming pollution is dangerous to our health and environment requires the EPA to follow up with standards under the Clean Air Act to control carbon pollution from cars, power plants, and other industrial sources.” Throughout Latino communities in Chicago, 2,800 asthma attacks and 41 premature deaths occur every year. For additional information see:Letter, Press Release, NRDC Climate Talks Could Lower Black Soot and Methane Emissions On September 27, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) director Achim Steiner said in an interview that while much emphasis is placed on reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, significant progress can be made in upcoming climate talks by reaching global agreements to abate black soot, methane and other non-CO2 gases that contribute to climate change. Steiner explained that reducing these substances can be done without the contentious legally binding agreements necessary for lowering global CO2 emissions. Black soot, methane and other non-CO2 gases account for about half of atmospheric substances that cause global warming. In addition, black soot darkens ice causing it to absorb more heat, accelerating global warming, particularly in the polar regions. Black soot is often produced from burning biomass, cooking with solid fuels and diesel exhaust. For additional information see: Bloomberg Cameron: October Competition to Jumpstart 10 Percent Carbon Cuts in First Year On September 30, UK Prime Minister David Cameron announced the departments of the coalition government will compete with each other to lower their energy use during the month of October. This competition is part of the government’s plan to cut its own greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 10 percent during the first year of the Cameron administration. Cameron’s announcement signals that the coalition has taken a leadership role in addressing climate change and is actively rebuilding its green credentials. The competition will also highlight some new efforts for improving energy efficiency such as the installation of innovative ceiling tiles in governmental buildings that store heat during the day and release it in the evening. For additional information see:Reuters, BusinessGreen South Korea Requires Companies to Set Reduction Targets for 2011 On September 27, the South Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy said that 374 of the nation’s largest polluters – producing at least 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year – will be required to set greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets by September 2011. The 374 companies identified by the Korean government produce about 58 percent of the country’s GHG emissions and will have to pay as much as $8,708 in fines if they fail to meet the targets. This is part of South Korea’s broader strategy to lower GHG emissions and mitigate the effects of global warming. The government also will begin a carbon-offset system under which larger companies that share their successful methods of carbon reduction with smaller companies will earn emission credits. For additional information see: Bloomberg Denmark On Path to be Fossil Fuel-Free by 2050 On September 29, a commission appointed by the Danish government released plans for moving Denmark off fossil fuels by 2050. “My government will study the recommendations very closely and will present a road map setting a date for freeing ourselves from fossil fuels,” Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said. “It will be one of the first road maps in the world on how to become fully independent of fossil fuels. A plan for a transition like this will touch every part of society and every corner of politics. We are facing tough choices.” The report outlines ideas on how to use replace fossil fuel consumption with wind energy and biomass fuel produced on native soil. Denmark also plans on discouraging the consumption of fossil fuels by phasing in a taxation of fossil fuels over the next 20 years. Going fossil fuel free would reduce the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent, and would reduce the need to turn to imported fuels to heat Denmark’s homes. Going fossil fuel free would reduce the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent, and would reduce the need to turn to imported fuels to heat Denmark’s homes. This turn to relying on “home-grown energy” will offset the taxes placed on coal and other fossil fuel imports. “There will be economic growth,” Katherine Richardson, the commission’s chairwoman said. “The difference between doing it with or without fossil fuels is about 0.5 percent of gross national product in 2050. That’s the cost of insurance to keep money in this country, creating jobs here instead of sending it to a few countries somewhere else in the world to get oil and gas.” For additional information see:The Guardian, Danish Commission Report Report: Investors in Europe Still Deterred From Clean Energy Investment On September 30, the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change published Shifting Private Capital to Low Carbon Investment, which showed there is not enough incentive in the EU for investors to switch away from greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting technologies. According to the report, 90 percent of asset managers interviewed said they were deterred by a lack of long-term policies to support their investments. Specifically, they stressed that member states need to adopt grandfathering guarantees, which keep new rules from applying to old projects. Recent changes to existing subsidy programs for solar power in member states like Spain and France signal to investors that the incentive landscape is still too unpredictable. For additional information see:Bloomberg, IIGCC Press Release Rising CO2 Levels Reduce Shellfish Populations, Study Says On September 20, a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed higher levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in oceans cause decline in shellfish populations. As CO2 concentrations increase in the atmosphere due to the combustion of fossil fuels, ocean waters become more acidic and shellfish have more trouble growing shells. Lead researcher Christopher Gobler from Stony Brook University conducted experiments growing shellfish at various CO2 concentration levels. The study concluded that shellfish could not adequately grow in CO2 concentration levels of 750 ppm or higher. Under these conditions, they could not develop strong shells and had feeble connective tissue. At this moment, oceans have a CO2 concentration of 390 ppm. For additional information see:Abstract, Discovery Other Headlines Fish & Wildlife Service Releases New Climate Change Strategy 20 Cities and Counties Honored for Achieving Milestones in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions UN Sees Funds Threat to Climate Campaign October 7: Can Oil Production Meet Rising Global Demand? The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on challenges facing the oil industry to keep pace with rising global demand, and the potential implications for oil prices, national security, and the world economy. Numerous sources project demand for liquid fuels to rise to historically unprecedented levels once the global economy recovers from the recent recession. Global oil production, meanwhile, has leveled off since 2005, real oil prices have roughly doubled, and spare capacity has tightened, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Potential constraints on global oil production have raised concerns among industry observers, military leaders, and policymakers. This briefing will examine the economic, technical, and political factors that influence the rate at which oil is extracted and processed, and how patterns of global oil production are changing. This briefing will be held on Thursday, October 7, 2010 from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. in the SVC 203/202 Capitol Visitor Center. This briefing is free and open to the public. No RSVP required. For more information, contact Jan Mueller at (202) 662-1883 Writers: Nicholas Mostovych and Alison Alford Please distribute Climate Change News to your colleagues. Permission for reproduction of this newsletter is granted provided that the Environmental and Energy Study Institute is properly acknowledged as the source. Past issues are available here. Free email subscriptions are available here. We welcome your suggestions, comments, and questions. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) is a non-profit organization founded in 1984 by a bipartisan Congressional caucus dedicated to finding innovative environmental and energy solutions. EESI works to protect the climate and ensure a healthy, secure, and sustainable future for America through policymaker education, coalition building, and policy development in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, agriculture, forestry, transportation, buildings, and urban planning. EESI’s work, including this free newsletter, is made possible by financial support from people like you. Please help us continue to make it available by making a secure, online donation today by clicking here or mailing a check to Environmental and Energy Study Institute; 1112 16th St NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036. Please contact Susan Williams at (202) 662-1887 (202) 662-1887 or see www.eesi.org/donate to find out more. Thank you for your support! Climate Action Hotline is the new weekly update by the US Climate Action Network. Let us know what you think.

“It is in everyone’s ultimate interest to accelerate action in order to minimize negative impacts on all.” -UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres in Tianjin.. Here Comes the Sun: White House to Go Solar China Says Climate Talks Must Tackle Rich CO2 Cuts NASA Launches Himalayan Monitoring System in Nepal EU Delays Green Barrier to Canada Oil Sands: Draft Climate Talks in Tianjin Put Spotlight on China India Says it is now Third Highest Carbon Emitter Choppy Waters Ahead for Global Shipping Emissions Deal Delegates told to ID Achievable Goals on Climate Change

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COPENHAGEN – Great social movements are about the intelligence and vision of individuals, and the compelling strength of crowds. Both have been in abundance throughout the first week of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, and especially today.

Wearing polar bear costumes, red suits and dark glasses, black jeans and matching black tee-shirts, and carrying a multitude of colorful signs aimed at speeding the pace of negotiations and results – “Bla, Bla, Bla. Act Now,” “There Is No Planet B,” “The World Wants A Real Deal” – tens of thousands of people crowded into Parliament Square for a rally this afternoon, and thousands more joined them for a 4-mile march to the Bella Center to present negotiators with demands as potent as their numbers.

©2009 J. Carl Ganter/Circle of Blue

The swelling crowd, variously estimated by the police and organizers, as measuring between 50,000 and 100,000, was peaceful, insistent, and cold. Temperatures were just above Fahrenheit freezing, and a wind tugged at upturned collars. Those in attendance wore pins and badges and carried banners indicating they came from all over the world.

Ride From Australia

One demonstrator, Kim Nuygen, said he took 16 months to bike here from Australia. Most of those who attended today were young. A trio from Paris said they’d come to organize a film festival that next week features former Vice President Al Gore. A group of students from the University of Michigan said they wanted to see how theories of dispute resolution, climate science, and chemical engineering actually worked when subject to the vagaries of political ideology and social differences. Their conclusion: It ain’t pretty.

“I’d like to think that something good will come out of the next week,” said Aubrey Parker, a University of Michigan student who was raised in the Traverse City region. “But I’m a little pessimistic. There’s a lot of bureaucracy. A lot of countries have come here with plans that are not progressive enough.”

Marcia Lee, a 27-year-old graduate student in dispute resolution from Marquette University, in Wisconsin, said,  “I really wanted to see how negotiations work on the international scale. I just wanted to gather people’s stories and learn and understand what really breaks peoples hearts. If we can reach that heart level it is possible to start the conversation of how to heal that broken heart.”

When pressed about what she meant, Lee said:  “There are four elements that everybody needs: The need to love and to be loved. The need to belong, and to be of use. If we can reach people at that level then a lot of things that separate us are changed. There is a lot of overlap to being human.”

©2009 J. Carl Ganter/Circle of Blue

More Around The World
The Global Day of Action here coincided with thousands of other gatherings of climate activists around the world. Five thousand people demonstrated in New Delhi. Paris decorated its North Station yesterday and dispatched the Climate Express, which carried hundreds of people to join demonstrators in Copenhagen. Tweets from the demonstration in Melbourne reported 50,000 people in attendance.

The purpose of the Copenhagen rally, march, and the candlelight vigil that ended the day was to amplify that essential sense that young people brought here, the idea that there must be a better way, and to provide mass to the individual voices of concern that have made the planet’s changing climate the signature issue of this generation. Speakers at the large and noisy rally pointed out time and again there is a vast difference in perception and language between those marching today, and those inside the Bella Center, where negotiators from 192 nations are racing a December 18 deadline to reach agreement.

The Heart vs. The Numbers
Inside, for the most part, the ornate language of diplomacy joins with complex science to set an often confusing table for negotiating numbers. There are differing views among delegates about how much carbon should be removed from the emissions of industrial and non-industrial nations; 20 percent? 40 percent? 0 percent. And when: 10 years? 25 years? 50 years? How much should be invested to do that: $10 billion annually; $195 billion annually within a decade.? How many acres of forest need to be preserved? How should uses of land change? And can the world hold the level of warming to 2 degrees Celsius, an increased viewed by many here as manageable, or will the climate shift be 4 degrees or more by late in the century, a level thought to be a threat to the species?

Outside, in the streets of Copenhagen, the words and phrases shouted through loudspeakers and in the mix of song and music carried in the wind was of people facing urgent consequences of climate change, and calls for an end to delay. A woman from Ghana opened the rally with a story of how her village, economically robust at the start of the decade, and easily able to feed itself, had been under siege in recent years by killing floods that gave rise to plagues of mosquitoes. The two growing seasons that used to exist have been cut in half to an uncertain one. After the floods came droughts and then floods and erosion and an end to bountiful harvests. Sickness has brought unexpected deaths. She blamed the fluky weather and its sober consequences on climate change. Not once did she use a number to describe the compelling misfortune of her family and her village.

Vigil and a Plea Heard Globally
The plaintive and plain spoken messages seem to be heard inside the Bella Center. The march today concluded there with a vigil. Sails that demonstrators carried from Parliament Square were ceremoniously handed to Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the conference’s organizers.

Early in the week, Tuvalu, the tiny Pacific Island nation of 12,000 residents, three of whom are here as climate negotiators, raised its voice to insist on faster action on climate that was legally binding for all nations. The proceedings slowed considerably, but did not stop, as the issues raised by a nation that lies four feet above sea level and understands that its fate will be determined by what happens in Copenhagen.

Indeed, the competition is fierce between developing nations that are the first to confront the immediacy of climate change, and the industrial nations that have varying levels of conviction about the consequences. Negotiators found a way later in the week to work through Tuvalu’s concern, at least temporarily, and draft texts of a final agreement were circulated on Friday and met greeted favorably by many nations. Environment ministers arrive this weekend to carry the negotiations closer to a final agreement next week, and the UNFCC is telling NGO representatives that a number of heads of state are planning to be in Copenhagen days earlier than planned.

That is an indication of the anticipation building here that something worthwhile will come out of these two weeks in December.  The Bella Center itself has gotten so jammed that its capacity of 15,000 people is close to being exceeded. The UNFCCC yesterday alerted participants that it will initiate a new system of issuing what it called “secondary cards” to keep the packed center from being too full. The new badging requirement will take effect on Tuesday.

“Fate of My Country”
As demonstrators and negotiators converged at the Bella Center at the march’s end today, the text was made public of a dramatic statement in the plenary session late in the week by one of Tuvalu’s diplomats. Circulated by NGO groups and read on hundreds of Blackberrys and IPhones, the clear-headed plea for action by one man from a little-known nation reflected the will of many of those who’ve come to Copenhagen.

“This is not just an issue of Tuvalu,” he said. “Millions of people around the world are affected. Over the last few days I’ve received calls from all over the world offering faith and hope that we can reach a conclusion on this issue.

“Madame President, this is not a media trip for me. I have refused to take media calls on this issue. As a humble servant of the government of Tuvalu, I have to make a strong appeal to you that we consider this matter properly.

“I woke this morning. I was crying. That’s not easy for a grown man to admit. The fate of my country rests in your hands.”

Keith Schneider, a journalist specializing in environmental policy, is media and communications director at the US Climate Action Network. Reach him at kschneider@climatenetwork.org

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