1.23.2009 7:47 AM

How Obama's Global Warming Plan Falls Short

The U.N. climate chief criticized Obama's targets for carbon reduction as too weak, given the magnitude of the problem.

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By TDG Community

COMMUNITY NEWS

In his Inaugural Address this week, President Barack Obama called on the United States to "roll back the specter of a warming planet." But at last week's State of the World 2009 Symposium, IPCC Chair Dr. Rajendra Pachauri said that Obama's proposed emissions target -- returning to 1990 levels by 2020 -- is insufficient, citing the IPCC's 2007 conclusion that global emissions must peak no later than 2015 to limit temperature increases to 2.0-2.4 degrees Celsius, a level at which the planet will still see serious impacts. Dr. Pachauri also noted that Obama's proposed target is well short of the 20 percent cut by 2020 that the European Union has committed to. The video featuring Dr. Pachauri’s full remarks is now available here. Dr. Pachauri’s keynote address begins at 11:07. He specifically discusses President Obama’s emissions reduction goals at 55:20 and 30:18.

- Julia Tier
Worldwatch Institute

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