Voter Guide: International Climate Agreements

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process is actively moving towards a new international climate change agreement, with an ambitious target completion date of December 2009. Both candidates have expressed their intent to actively engage in these negotiations, and their approach to international climate policy is profoundly different from the current administration.

Both candidates have also expressed their intent to provide incentives for developing countries to reduce their GHG emissions. Sen. Obama would create a technology transfer program within the Department of Energy to transfer lower-polluting American energy technology to the developing world to fight climate change; Sen. McCain would establish “government incentives and partnerships for sales of clean tech to developing countries.”

Regarding major emerging economies, such as China and India in particular, Sen. McCain would “provide incentives for rapid participation by India and China, while negotiating an agreement with each,” while Sen. Obama would “cooperate with China and India to reduce demand for oil,” and in general “ensure the U.S. works with developing countries on climate change,” including “confronting deforestation and promoting carbon sequestration.”

In addition, Sen. Obama “would create a Global Energy Forum – based on the G8+5, which include all G-8 members plus Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa – of the world’s largest emitters to focus exclusively on global energy and environmental issues.” McCain has not publicly proposed an additional international process.

Additional Resources:

• Climate Change 101 Briefs
• Proposed Cap and Trade Legislation
• Dialogue at Pocantico
• Competitiveness and Engaging Developing Countries
• Testimony before Senate Foreign Relations Committee
• Insights from EU Emissions Trading System

Appendix: Candidates’ Climate- and Energy-Related Policy Positions