US, Australia Highlight Road Blocks to Global Carbon Curbs

摘要

The extension of carbon trading and national greenhouse gas reduction commitments beyond the European Union remains a goal of many of the world's key policymakers. However, some of the latest legislative proposals to fight climate change have again encountered hurdles and even failure, notably in Australia and the US. Internationally, all eyes are now on big gatherings such as a climate conference in Cancun, Mexico, later this year to jump-start global discussions, perhaps under better economic conditions, following the failure of last December's Copenhagen climate talks to produce binding emissions targets. But individual countries such as the US and Australia need to provide some momentum first, and that seems to be sorely lacking.