Obama Copenhagen Climate Conference Victory Speech: Headlines From Foreign Press Has Differing Views

We’ve posted headlines from both international and national newspapers on the “agreement” reached by “world leaders” with Obama at the helm as we’ve found them highly illuminating. Illuminating in that many of the headlines don’t tell the same “story” as Obama’s “meaningful and unprecedented” victory lap speech.

The Daily Mail:

World leaders try to save face with 11th hour deal – but officials admit it’s ‘not enough to tackle global warming’

Climate change talks descended into farce tonight after world leaders claimed they were close to signing a ‘meaningful agreement’ – but admitted it was not enough to tackle global warming.

After hours of acrimonious talks in Copenhagen, American sources said world leaders had finally agreed a fudged deal in the hope of saving face.

But the flimsy nature of the agreement was immediately undermined when a senior US official conceded it was ‘not sufficient to tackle climate change’.

[ABOVE: B+ diplomacy]

The Guardian:

Low targets, goals dropped: Copenhagen ends in failure
Deal that is not legally binding thrashed out at talks damned as climate change denial in action

Obama emerges from climate talks with slender pact and bruised stature
US president urges decisive action on climate change, but shows no sign that Washington will take such steps itself

BBC:

Key powers in climate compromise
Key states reach a deal they describe as a first step in tackling climate change, amid warnings it does not go far enough.

CNN:

Obama announces climate change deal with China, other nations

Reuters:

Developing nations slam U.S.-led climate deal

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Several developing nations rejected on Saturday a climate deal worked out by President Barack Obama and four major emerging economies, saying it could not become a U.N. blueprint for fighting global warming.

The developing nations got a taste of Obama “closed door” treatment:

Delegates of Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba and Nicaragua also angrily denounced the “Copenhagen Accord,” saying it would not help address global warming and was unfairly worked out behind closed doors at the December 7-18 conference.

SNAP ANALYSIS: China happy with climate deal, image dented

“COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – China flexed its growing political muscle to seal a compromise climate deal that protected its national sovereignty, but did little for global warming or Beijing’s international image.”

Climate deal gives Obama limited victory

“COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – A climate deal negotiated by the United States and other major carbon polluters will allow President Barack Obama to claim a limited victory, but enough to breathe new life into efforts to pass legislation in Congress.”

Times Online:

Copenhagen deadlock wrapped up as emissions deal

“The United Nations climate change summit ended last night without setting any emission reduction targets.

President Obama forged a non-binding agreement with his counterparts in China, India, Brazil and South Africa but it was unclear whether all 192 countries would accept the compromise text.”

The Telegraph:

Copenhagen climate summit: ‘meaningful agreement’ hailed by leaders
World leaders have hailed an “historic” deal on climate change after two weeks of difficult negotiations in Copenhagen.

France 24:

‘Unprecedented’ deal clinched at climate talks

After a long day of intense negotiations with leaders of key developing nations, US President Barack Obama announced a “meaningful and unprecedented” climate change deal. But he acknowledged the deal was limited and not legally binding.

Frankfurter Allgemeine:

The degree tour of Copenhagen

After tense and chaotic in some negotiations, the representatives of the 193 participating countries in the “Copenhagen agreement” to limit global warming to two degrees by 2050. “We have progressed a bit, but we still have a long way to go,” said the American President Obama.

Wall Street Journal:

Climate Pact Falls Short
Emission Curbs Are Weak; U.S. Calls Compromise With China, India a ‘First Step’

New York Times:

5 Nations Forge a Climate Deal, but Many Goals Remain Unmet

President Obama announced here on Friday night that five major nations, including the United States, had together forged a climate deal. He called it “an unprecedented breakthrough” but acknowledged that it still fell short of what was required to combat global warming.

Washington Post:

Copenhagen agreement falls short of key goals
Leaders broker deal to monitor domestic emission cuts but achieve no overall target for greenhouse gas curbs or deadline for an international treaty.

USA Today:

Obama: ‘Meaningful’ deal reached on climate

President Obama said the United States, China and several other countries reached a “unprecedented breakthrough” Friday to curb greenhouse gas emissions — including a mechanism to verify compliance — after a frenzied day of diplomacy at the U.N. climate talks.

By LBG

Image – Obama Climate Change

Tags: Copenhagen Climate Conference