U.N. Climate Change Summit Does Not Produce Results

This week the U.N. Summit on climate change was held in New York and there is clear pressure for countries to shutter coal-fired power plants and to provide additional country commitments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, despite there being 15 months before countries are supposed to revise their commitments to the 2015 Paris Agreement. Australia and Japan were denied speaking time because of their role in funding coal. Protesters even flew a blimp of Japanese President Shinzo Abe in a bucket of coal outside U.N. headquarters. China and India did not make new commitments to further their reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, but instead participated in other venues. India took part in joint announcements on low-carbon manufacturing, and China led a work stream for protecting and expanding natural carbon sinks. Currently, China's plan regarding the 2015 Paris Agreement is to allow its emissions to increase and peak in 2030, after which it will begin to reduce them. Despite all the hyperbole and mutual expressions of admiration, nothing was accomplished.