For those with high hopes of an unprecedented worldwide breakthrough on reducing climate change, the United Nations Copenhagen summit was an "unprecedented breakdown," as New York Times columnist Tom Friedman described the results. For those willing to proclaim victory with even a shard of achievement, the outcome was what diplomats might charitably call "a start."
This much is certain: With more than 190 United Nations members unable to agree on any firm plan for attacking climate change and shifting to green energy generation, concrete action may wait for another generation when catastrophe finally strikes and forces decisions—in all likelihood too late.
Meanwhile, green advocates make a sound and convincing argument that the best way to stir global change is to begin the revolution at home and shame the rest of the world into following.
This challenge is squarely in the lap of President Obama, who must use a more commanding presence to force change in U.S. policies and consumer habits.
As columnist Friedman points out in his latest column, the United States and tiny Denmark were among the world's most oil-dependent nations in 1973, when Arab petro-states embargoed exports.
Now, however, the Danes have the highest energy efficiency in all of Europe, as well as intense environmental policies that have created large new clean-energy export industries and slashed reliance on foreign oil to imperceptible levels.
Denmark did this with rigorous, wide-ranging fuel- and emission-taxing policies enacted by bold leaders that didn't waffle, delay or dilly-dally.
The spirit of the Danes is precisely what needs to be transplanted to Washington, D.C., where industry's delaying tactics and double-talk have encouraged Americans to continue wasteful, polluting ways.
At one time, Republicans were obsessed with technological innovation. Now, GOP principles equate to moving backwards, standing still or sabotaging the will and ways to produce alternative energy and reduce global warming.
If energy self-reliance and slowing man-made climate change is, as President Obama insists, a major national security issue, then harnessing the American spirit and know-how to show the way for the world's stubborn holdouts must be the president's primary goal in 2010. No credible excuse remains for further delay.
The issue has been dissected, debated and delayed since President Carter introduced it in the 1970s—more than 30 years and six presidents ago. If the planet were human, it would now be dialing 911 for emergency help with all deliberate speed.
