A politically binding climate change agreement is great... if you're a politician
The biggest news coming out of the Barcelona climate talks being held this week is the re-framing of a successful climate change treaty as being one that is “politically binding” as opposed to “legally binding.”
With all the long hours I’ve been putting into to covering these climate talks, I’m sure my wife is wishing our marriage was a politically binding agreement, as opposed to a legal one.
This double-speak-aganza started earlier this week with Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen telling Reuters that, “it is a challenge for every single industrialised country in the world to deal with the climate change issue and that’s why we are working very strongly to reach a politically binding agreement in Copenhagen…”
President Rasmussen said he was optimistic that a politically binding deal could be reached in Copenhagen. No kidding he’s optimistic. Who wouldn’t sign on the dotted line to an agreement that has absolutely no ramifications if the terms are not met?
Read more: A politically binding climate change agreement is great... if you're a politician
