Unless the world's nations come together in a truly global effort – and quickly – then we will steadily increase the odds that each country will be left to suffer the consequences of climate change alone.
Two years ago at climate talks in Bali, a delegate from Papua New Guinea chastised the United States by saying, "If you are not willing to lead, then please, leave it to the rest of us, please get out of the way." Today, President Barack Obama and six Cabinet officials have come to Copenhagen to lead again and put America on the right side of history.
Heribert Proepper, AP
Sen. Kerry delivers his speech in Copenhagen on Wednesday.
Domestically, America has accomplished more in the past 12 months than we did in the previous 12 years: The single largest investment in clean energy in our nation's history. Bold, binding targets to raise the fuel economy of America's cars and trucks for the first time in three decades. Thirty-three of our 50 states have voluntarily entered into compacts to reduce emissions. More than 1,000 mayors are taking strict measures to meet Kyoto targets. And for the first time in American history, the House of Representatives finally passed comprehensive climate change legislation with a national mandatory emissions target.
The missing piece now is the U.S. Senate, where I am working with Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to find truly bipartisan answers to problems America cannot afford to ignore. The single greatest concern from senators in both parties is the fear that other countries won't match America's commitments in a way that is verifiable. These are vital concerns, and we urge developing countries to address them in Copenhagen.
But it is worth recognizing that, in the lead-up to the conference, developing nations have made historic new commitments. China has committed to a 40 percent to 45 percent carbon intensity reduction; Brazil has pledged a remarkable 80 percent cut in its all-important emissions from deforestation; and India too has broken new ground with an offer to cut its emissions intensity by 20 percent to 25 percent. We're ready to help those counties with financing for efficiency, technology and adaptation to meet our common but differentiated responsibility to solve this urgent challenge.
For all our progress, we remain a long way from our goals. Right now our best efforts, according to a climate model put together by The Fletcher School and the Heinz Center, may limit us to a rise of 3.9 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels, even though the world's major economies agreed this year in Italy that anything beyond 2 degrees would be catastrophic. That's why Copenhagen is not about one country or one faction simply making a demand of another. It's the science itself, demanding action from all of us.
None of this will be easy; we know that. But we can find the answers if we find the will to demand them. This is not a moment to weigh what is the least that our country can offer up in Copenhagen, but to act boldly and find out what is the most we can accomplish there together.
When George Mitchell's tireless efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland finally succeeded, his message was simple: "We had 700 days of failure and one day of success."
We remain hopeful that Copenhagen will ultimately yield important progress toward a global climate treaty next year. Sometimes it takes 700 days. Sometimes it takes 17 years. But those of us committed to combating global climate change will continue working until we enjoy our day of success.
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Sen. John Kerry is the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and the lead author of the Senate's climate change legislation.
