The significance of the 13th Conference of the Parties in Bali and its implications for moving forward on climate change cannot be stressed enough. Last Thursday, January 24 the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations summoned a full committee hearing,"International Climate Change Negotiations: Bali and the Path Toward a Post-2012 Climate Treaty" to discuss such matters.
We all followed the anticipation and media analysis of the United Nations climate change conference in Bali this past December. We heard the boos and disappointment in response to the United States’ "leadership" echo in the halls and spread like wildfire in the media. We saw David versus Goliath – Kevin Conrad, representing Papua New Guinea, earnestly request, "I would ask the United States, we ask for your leadership… But if for some reason you’re not willing to lead, leave it to the rest of us. Please get out of the way."