Gordon Brown has led on climate change – it’s time for Obama to do the same

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

With just two weeks to go before the Copenhagen climate change summit, Gordon Brown’s early leadership on committing to attending the summit, announced in September, should be celebrated. Responding to a formal invitation to world leaders from Danish Prime Minister earlier this month, the Prime Minsiter yesterday replied:

“I believe that on an issue of such far-reaching and global significance it will require leaders to make the final decisions necessary to achieve agreement. As you know, I made a public commitment in September to attend the Conference. I am therefore delighted to accept your invitation. I am extremely encouraged that so many Heads of State and Government have now publicly confirmed their intention to go. This is an important signal and I shall continue to encourage others to do so.”

65 other world leaders have now joined the Prime Minister in announcing their intention to attend the Conference, with no refusals to date. They include Presidents, Prime Minsiters and Chancellors from France, Japan, Brazil, Australia, Spain and Germany. But it is still unclear if President Obama will join them.

Brown’s letter yesterday was a clear statement that ambitions for the summit must remain high at this crucial stage. He wrote:

“Leaders must together work towards an ambitious and comprehensive agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change that will put the world on a trajectory towards a maximum global average temperature increase of 2°C. The Copenhagen Agreement must allow for immediate implementation of its provisions, while also including a clear commitment to convert the agreement into an internationally legally binding treaty as soon as possible.”

With that substantive strategy – if not a final, binding commitment – still up for negotiation in Copenhagen, President Obama should feel compelled to join other leaders next month. Happily, although not confirming the President’s attendance, the White House today cautiously echoed Gordon Brown’s words, saying the US administration would seek a “proposed target” for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I doubt that that can be achieved without Obama’s personal attendance.

Last week, Kevin Conrad, the climate change envoy from Papua New Guinea, who had previously said “If you are not willing to lead then leave it to the rest of us, get out of the way”, praised Gordon Brown’s early leadership, saying:

“the UK, in my view, is one of the strongest and most articulate advocates for getting something done.”

Ed Miliband wrote about that ambition for Copenhagen on LabourList in July, but he has since revealed his equal measure of optimism and frustration with the process.

With just a few days left to go, it is reassuring that the government is following through on its work and pledges, and is still striving for as comprehensive an agreement as Copenhagen can deliver. In the next fortnight and beyond, it is crucial that the White House does the same.