Obama changes travel plans to end of climate summit
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President Obama has changed his travel plans, shifting his visit to the climate summit in Copenhagen from the beginning of the session to the end, the White House announced this afternoon.
“Based on his conversations with other leaders and the progress that has already been made to give momentum to negotiations, the president believes that continued U.S. leadership can be most productive through his participation at the end of the Copenhagen conference on December 18th rather than on December 9th,” according to a prepared statement.
The travel change will make some environmentalists happier. They have argued that the conference makes its major decisions at the end under the pressure of a deadline, so it made more sense for Obama to go then when his influence may have more effect.
The White House seemed to reflect that thinking in its statement:
“There are still outstanding issues that must be negotiated for an agreement to be reached, but this decision reflects the president’s commitment to doing all that he can to pursue a positive outcome,” the statement said.
Obama is still scheduled to travel next week to pick up his Nobel Peace Prize. He will leave on Wednesday and return to Washington on Friday.
In changing the president’s travel plans, the White House cited recent comments by India and China on steps to reduce their emissions as a positive sign that an accord is possible. Domestically, the Senate is not expected to deal with the issue until next year, though the House has passed a bill.
The last time Obama traveled to Copenhagen was to push for the selection of Chicago as the Olympic site in 2016. Rio de Janeiro was given that honor.
For more, go to The Swamp
--Michael Muskal
