Climate change will likely be on the agenda this week when President Obama meets with Latin American leaders at the Summit of the Americas according to E&E, a leading Washington environmental newsletter.
According to E&E, “environmental activists, international relations analysts and a top U.S. diplomat say energy and the environment will undoubtedly be part of the discussions.” Our question is really how? When it comes to biofuels the Brazilians have asserted a pretty clear roadmap, according to this blog.
Speaking at a State Department briefing, Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow, special adviser to President Obama for the Summit of the Americas, it seems the discussions would revolve around the best ways to share ideas, scientists and cooperative mechanisms. “The United States will want to talk about a green agenda, an agenda that will focus on clean energy. […] We know that other countries are interested in working with us and with third countries on issues relating to energy conservation, renewable energy and other topics which form part of a green initiative — all of which are related, of cousre, to our concerns about the environment and global warming.”
Meanwhile, a recent report by a number of think-tanks offered up three areas for progress in the development of lasting sustainable energy partnerships based on cooperation around strategic needs. First, an energy and environment hemispheric research initiative. Second, an agenda for a sustainable Amazon. Third, a new approach to the electricity sector in Central America and the Caribbean. The report is called “Blueprint for a Sustainable Energy Partnership for the Americas.”
According to E&E, environmental groups are expecting to see environment and climate change at the discussion this weekend. Jake Schmidt, international climate policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, called the upcoming Latin American meetings a “crucial place” for high-level conversations about climate change.” “We need to seriously ratchet up the conversation if we’re going to see a positive outcome out of Copenhagen,” he said.
Andrew Selee, director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, noted climate change “is at the top of the domestic agenda for Barack Obama, and it’s at the top of the agenda for Calderón.” Mexico is aiming to cut emissions 50 percent below 2000 levels by 2050. And, Paulo Sotero, director of the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Brazil Institute, said he does expect climate change to be a key point of discussion at the summit — particularly because a number of the Caribbean island nations represented there have much to fear from a warming world. “Certainly, this is one area that could produce a lot of substantive exchange and probably some good, positive results,” Sotero said.
Obama leaves Thursday for Mexico, where he will meet with Mexican President Felipe Calderón. Then he goes to Trinidad and Tobago, where he will attend the three-day summit along with heads of state of 34 nations.
Filed under: Biofuels, Climate Change | Tagged: Biofuels, Brazil, Ethanol, Summit of the Americas, Sustainability
