The economic liberalism that the world took for granted has given way to the White House’s attempt to gain sectarian control over institutions, as well as government intervention into private companies,
The erratic tariff policy pursued by the U.S. president and his administration has so far mainly served to strengthen ties between countries in the Global South and Beijing, and, where relevant, Moscow.
The world may be disappointed by the US policy — I am — but equally, it’s disappointed by the Chinese policy. Else why the split between China and the Group of 77 on verification of CO2 reduction?
Commonsense is that external verification is essential, not just as a legal constraint, but because in the future it will be essential as a basis of negotiations to keep climate-change reduction on track.
Yet China refuses external verification which unavoidably raises questions as to its commitment, leading to the split within the 77.
In the arena of climate change politics, it seems, there are no heroes except, perhaps, the small island nations that will be submerged by rising sea levels and who must speak the truth or be destroyed. No wonder that the Copenhagen conference is doomed.
The world may be disappointed by the US policy — I am — but equally, it’s disappointed by the Chinese policy. Else why the split between China and the Group of 77 on verification of CO2 reduction?
Commonsense is that external verification is essential, not just as a legal constraint, but because in the future it will be essential as a basis of negotiations to keep climate-change reduction on track.
Yet China refuses external verification which unavoidably raises questions as to its commitment, leading to the split within the 77.
In the arena of climate change politics, it seems, there are no heroes except, perhaps, the small island nations that will be submerged by rising sea levels and who must speak the truth or be destroyed. No wonder that the Copenhagen conference is doomed.