When Barack Obama visits Copenhagen this Friday to support Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics, he will also talk climate with the Danish Prime Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, at Christiansborg.
Christiansborg Palace CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
According to Berlingske Tidene, Rasmussen has climate at the top of the meeting agenda, as part of his work toward securing a global climate deal at the UN COP15 later this year, also in Copenhagen.
While the Danish government scrambles to leverage the sudden Olympics-oriented influx of foreign heads of state for progress on climate, an energy industry representative tries to downplay the significance of the Rasmussen-Obama meeting:
"This means nothing whatsoever. In the end, the U.S. Senate will determine the final agreement, and this meeting has no bearing on that."
Berlingske Tidene literally describes the industry representative as "sowing doubt."
A green thinktank manager, Martin Lidegaard, appears to have plenty of doubt of his own:
"Lars Løkke Rasmussen is a small fish in a big pond. He's not a super power. However, both he and Obama want to avoid having the top climate meeting be a total failure."
It would be reasonable, Lidegaard suggests, for Rasmussen to want to present a Plan B to Obama. On the other hand, Lidegaard speculates that it would be dangerous to admit defeat already:
"If the public were to find out that the sought climate deal has already been abandoned, this would send a bad message."
Postmodern irony or just an attempt to downplay expectations?
Kim Christensen, Director of WWF's Global Climate Initiative, has three requests for Rasmussen to make of Obama:
Obama has to engage more directly in the climate debate, both in the Senate and with the American public.
The U.S. has to be more ambitious in its 2020 emissions cuts.
The U.S. simply must sign a legally binding comprehensive climate agreement.
Politiken reports on Climate Ride-ing Danish Ambassador,Friis Arne Petersen, who says it's too early to write off the U.S. and Obama:
"Obama has been very persistent when it comes to energy and climate, and he has made clear that the place to reach a global agreement is in Copenhagen."
Climate Ride 2009
BTW, Ambassador Petersen has this to say about Climate Ride:
"Grassroots movements contribute to setting the agenda...It's important to take part and support this, and that's why I'm here. I'm here on official business."
Final word goes to Prime Minister Rasmussen himself, courtesy of Jyllands Posten:
"I'm pleased that Obama, through his personal commitment to this issue has led the U.S. into the climate arena. We have him to thank for the change that has brought the U.S. into the international negotiations whatsoever."
"[This Friday's visit] is a fantastic, somewhat extraordinary opportunity. Naturally, we will take advantage of this opportunity."