Press release via Avaaz.

Majority supports a legally binding climate deal that peaks emissions by 2015

A new poll commissioned by global campaign network Avaaz.org in the middle of the Copenhagen climate negotiations shows widespread American support for the Obama administration to lead the world to a real climate deal in Copenhagen.

“This poll shows that the majority of Americans want a real deal — an ambitious and binding global climate treaty that peaks global emissions by 2015,” said Ricken Patel, Executive Director of Avaaz.org.

The poll showed a majority of Americans support a legally binding climate treaty that peaks emissions by 2015. By a two-to-one margin (61% in favor, 33% opposed), Americans want the US to sign a treaty in Copenhagen that peaks global emissions by 2015. Moreover, a majority (53%) want that treaty to be legally binding, with only 40% opposed.

“Americans know who the villains are in the fight against climate change. Sixty-four percent of Americans believe that oil and coal companies have too much influence over Congress”, said Patel.

The poll showed that 64% of Americans say that oil and coal companies have too much influence on Congress and decisions on climate change policies, with only 11% saying they have too little influence and 19% saying the right amount of influence. Obama’s base of strong Democrats feels that way even more strongly, with 74% saying too much influence — but over two-thirds of independents (68%) agree, and even a majority of strong Republicans (52%) agree.

“Americans are fully aware that political promises are not sufficient in the fight against climate change — only 6% of Americans trust world leaders fully to cut emissions without a legally binding treaty,” added Patel.

According to the poll, only 6% of Americans say they have “a lot” of trust in world leaders to reduce emissions without a legally binding climate treaty, and only an additional 20% say they have “some” trust — with fully 71% saying they have very little trust or none at all (26% saying “very little” and a stunning 45% saying “none at all”.

Here is the relevant part of the transcript:

QUESTION: If we could turn to another one of those key questions: climate change. That’s obviously going to be a key issue in your talks with the Chinese. Just on the subject of climate change, could we ask you whether you are intending to go to Copenhagen for the talks? You went there for Chicago’s bid for the Olympics; are you intending to go there for the climate change summit?

OBAMA: Well, here’s what I’ll say. Since before I was sworn in, I was very clear that I think dealing with climate change is vital to our security interests, is vital to our economic interests. It is an opportunity, as well as an enormous challenge, for us to shift to a clean energy economy. And after eight years in which there was resistance to even acknowledging the problem, I think my administration has been very clear that we intend to be a leader on this issue internationally.

Now, getting to a deal internationally is difficult. This will be one of the top subjects for our conversations with the Chinese. In my previous conversations with President Hu Jintao, I think he acknowledges that this is an area of great interest to the Chinese. The effects of climate change could be devastating on their agricultural systems and their ecology. And the key now is for the United States and China as the two largest emitters in the world to be able to come up with a framework that along with other big emitters, like the Europeans and those countries that are projected to be large emitters in the future like India, can all buy into.

And I remain optimistic that between now and Copenhagen, that we can arrive at that framework. It’s hard work. And one of the things that I’ve come to believe based on a lot of summits this year is that the work is really not done at the summit; the work is done before the summit. And if I am confident that all the countries involved are bargaining in good faith and we are on the brink of a meaningful agreement and my presence in Copenhagen will make a difference in tipping us over the edge, then certainly that’s something that I would do. But I’ve got to make sure that over the next three weeks, pressure is continually applied on our teams and everybody else’s teams to actually create a framework that people can sign off on.

QUESTION: Do you think there’s more you can bring, apart from what’s happening on the Hill, sort of legislation which may not indeed be ready by then, but I mean –

OBAMA: Well, I think everybody understands that the Senate won’t have acted on climate change legislation before Copenhagen. And our key partners, including Prime Minister Rasmussen of Denmark, the host, who’s taken a very constructive and active role on this issue, I think recognizes that not every “t” is going to be crossed and “i” dotted in the next three weeks. I think the question is, we can create a set of principles, building blocks, that allow for ongoing and continuing progress on the issue, and that’s something I’m confident we can achieve.

And I am confident also — last point I’d make — I’m confident that the American people will recognize the enormous opportunity around a clean energy economy and the ability for us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

But it takes time. In meetings with world leaders, I’ve repeatedly explained that America is not a speedboat; we’re a big ocean liner. And you can’t reverse course overnight. But what we can do and we are doing is I think changing the trajectory of how we approach this issue, both in terms of public opinion, attitudes on Capitol Hill, and certainly among businesses who really understand that for America to lead in this issue ultimately will create enormous economic opportunities.

This is the best indication we’ve seen yet that Obama will be attending the global climate talks in Copenhagen next month:

“If I am confident that all of the countries involved are bargaining in good faith and we are on the brink of a meaningful agreement and my presence in Copenhagen will make a difference in tipping us over the edge, then certainly that’s something that I will do,” Obama said in an interview with Reuters.

First, here is Gorbachev:

In 1989, incredible changes that were deemed impossible just a few years earlier were implemented. But this was no accident. The changes resonated the hopes of the time and leaders responded. We brought down the wall in the belief that future generations would be able to solve challenges together. Today, looking at the cavernous gulf between rich and poor, the irresponsibility that caused the global financial crisis, and the weak and divided responses to climate change, I feel bitter. The opportunity to build a safer, fairer and more united world has been largely squandered.

To echo the demand made of me by my late friend and sparring partner President Reagan: Mr Obama, Mr Hu, Mr Singh, Mr Brown and, back in Berlin, Ms Merkel and her European counterparts: “Tear down this wall!”

For this is Your Wall, your defining moment. You cannot dodge the call of history. I appeal to heads of state and government to personally come to the climate change conference in Copenhagen this December and dismantle the wall. The people of the world expect you to deliver; do not fail them.

And here is Bill Clinton:

It is important to get a new climate treaty at Copenhagen in December to succeed the Kyoto Accords. It is important that Congress respond to the president’s call to pass responsible climate change legislation. It is important that China, India and other emerging economies be part of that solution.

It should be easier to accomplish all this now because we know that changing the way we produce and consume energy, provided we do it in the right way, is not an economic millstone around our necks. Instead, it is the single fastest way to jump-start the economy and restore the middle class by creating new jobs and lowering energy costs. Using our own sun, wind and natural gas; developing new technologies for appliances, green buildings and retrofits; restoring our forests; capturing carbon and storing or recycling it — all these things will also enhance our national security. And spreading these practices throughout the world will speed development and reduce poverty, ensuring us a future with more partners and fewer enemies.

USA Today:

Researchers who deal in cold numbers rather than warming climates believe the “significant benefits from curbing greenhouse-gas emissions would justify the costs of action,” a new survey finds.

In fact, the survey of economists finds 94% believe the U.S. should join climate agreements to limit global warming.

Here are some of the findings of the survey:

•91.6% wanted a tax or “cap and trade” system, where polluters buy and sell emission permits, instead of regulation, to cut greenhouse gases.

•84% agreed the effects of global warming “create significant risks” to the economy, particularly to agriculture, fishing, insurance and health.

•Of the 94.3% who favor the U.S. joining climate agreements to limit greenhouse-gas emissions, 57% say greenhouse-gas cuts should come “regardless of the actions of other countries.”

And here is the full report, from the Institute for Public Policy:

EconomistsandClimateChange –