As you may have heard, a small gathering is taking place in Copenhagen to discuss the weather. Countries from all over the world are sending delegates to the 2009 Climate Change Conference and heads of state (including President Obama) will soon attend to discuss the dangers of global warming and map out what they intend to do about it. In this backgrounder from the Council on Foreign Relations the agendas of 15 key actors are examined, including the United States. It reveals the real reason that President Obama will most likely disappoint those seeking dramatic action to combat global warming – the U.S. Senate will not support it. Depending on your perspective, the U.S. role in fighting climate change will either be seen as an unfortunate impediment to meaningful curbs on carbon emissions or a timely brake on a social movement that is going faster than the science and the politics will allow.
Photo Credit: ABC News/Library of Congress
