Obama in Copenhagen: President Speaks, NAACP Reacts

In a brief speech this morning at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, President Barack Obama pressed the world's nations to agree on how they'll combat climate change. "I believe that we can act boldly and decisively in the face of this common threat," said Obama in a 10-minute address (shown below) that took on climate change deniers and promised billions in aid to the countries that can least afford to deal with the effects of climate change.

"You would not be here unless you -- like me -- were convinced that this danger is real. This is not fiction, this is science," said Obama, who, at home, faces skepticism among Republicans such as Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, who has called global warming a "hoax" and vows that climate change legislation will not be passed by Congress. Obama continued: "Unchecked, climate change will pose unacceptable risks to our security, our economies and our planet. That much we know."

Many of the poorer countries that will bear the brunt of climate change, including rising waters in some areas and drought in others, cannot afford to mitigate its effects. In recognition of that, Obama promised aid:

"America will be a part of fast-start funding that will ramp up to $10 billion in 2012. And, yesterday, Secretary [of State Hillary] Clinton made it clear that we will engage in a global effort to mobilize $100 billion in financing by 2020, if -- and only if -- it is part of the broader accord that I have just described."

As for that accord, it remains in jeopardy because China has balked at having its efforts to cut emissions of greenhouse gases scrutinized. Other countries have complained that developed nations, which are most at fault for climate change, are pushing too much of the burden onto poorer nations. Obama addressed the ongoing disagreements that threaten a global climate change pact:

"This is not a perfect agreement, and no country would get everything that it wants. There are those developing countries that want aid with no strings attached and who think that the most advanced nations should pay a higher price. And there are those advanced nations who think that developing countries cannot absorb this assistance, or that the world's fastest-growing emitters should bear a greater share of the burden."

Reacting to the president's speech, the director of the NAACP's Climate Justice initiative, Jacqui Patterson, said, "The biggest emitters should bear more of the cost. It's a simple responsibility and accountability thing. As the Bolivians have said as their mantra during this conference, 'You break it. You buy it!'"

Patterson said that overall, she was underwhelmed by Obama's speech. But, she said, "I was somewhat encouraged that he was exercising some of the things that we think are important in terms of accountability, transparency and making sure there are mechanisms to review how [nations are] measuring up to their commitments." She added that the NAACP will seek to work with the government, academic institutions and nonprofits to continue fighting for climate justice for people of color.

For more on how climate change affects African Americans, see my previous posting, 'Copenhagen Climate Summit: Why Black Americans Should Care.'

______________

Sheryl Huggins Salomon is contributing editor of Black Voices, where she writes about politics and society. She is co-editor of the 'Nia Guide for Black Women' series of self-improvement books and the former publisher of Shade magazine. Follow her on Twitter or contact her at BVCEditor@aol.com.