The Change in Climate Change

The importance of this story has sort of slipped through the cracks a bit, including here.  I've been busy writing about other matters, and only now am coming up for air to address it.  It did get some national coverage, though not much, and no continuing emphasis on its importance.

For the longest time, one of the arguments that Republicans in Congress have made for not advancing any actions on behalf of Climate Change is that because China is perhaps the biggest polluter in the world, as long as they're not taking any action in their own country, it makes no sense to take action here in the U.S., since it won't have much impact.

Okay, never mind that it does make sense for the United States to take the initiative on Climate Change regardless of what other country's do -- after all, that hasn't been the American Standard for action on pretty much anything -- since it would impact the air we breath here in our own land, and our actions often impact how other countries act.  But the larger point is that, sense of not, that's been one of the GOP's core positions.  As long as China isn't acting on Climate Change, why on earth should we?

Well, so much for that argument.

On September 27, China announced a commitment to a cap-and-trade that would lower emissions in 2017.  It also said that it would commit over $3 billion to an international fund to help poor countries with Climate Change issues.  

At the same time, President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced commitments on Climate Change along with a "common vision for an ambitious global climate agreement."  The United States re-stated its goal to cut power plant emissions by 32% by the year 2030.  

The U.S. has also previously announced its plans to provide that same international climate fund with $3 billion, as well.  The only hang-up is that Congressional Republicans have thus far done what they can to block these funds being donated.  However, now that their big condition has been met, what with China now taking action on Climate Change, certainly Republican objections will disappear.  Right?

Good.  That should be settled now, because if anything Republicans will surely be good to their word.  China is taking action on Climate Change, and therefore they will agree to it now, too.

Right?!!