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This week, leaders from around the world met in London to discuss the global economic crisis. This most recent G20 summit, named so because it gathers leaders from the world's 20 leading industrial and developing nations, was focused on finding a solution to the world's economic problems and, though a coordinated stimulus plan was not reached, some headway on this front was made. Some are even predicting a "new world economic order" may emerge from the meetings. The change, it is believed, has its roots in the rhetoric of the talks, if not the outcomes.
Leading this new way of speaking about the global economy was Barack Obama. He argued that faith in "unfettered globalization" and management policies that allow markets to run unregulated had become obsolete. Nicolas Sarkozy commented that the summit was not representative of "the victory of one camp against the other, but shows the growing awareness that the world needs to change."
While a consensus on a new approach to global economic policy is certainly a positive thing, many were left asking what implications the G20 summit had for environmental policy. Though it was not the primary focus of the 11 hour meeting, it did not go unmentioned. Leaders reaffirmed commitments to sign a UN plan to address climate change later this year. The ultimate goal of transitioning to a low-carbon, green economy was also reiterated, though no concrete plans or commitments were made to work towards this vision.
John Sauven, the executive director of Greenpeace, commented that "for making the transition to a green economy there is no money on the table, just vague aspirations." It looks as though environmentalists will have to wait for the UN plan to get more substantial commitments from the world's leaders.
For more on the latest in environmental news and issues, check out Focus Earth: April 4, 2009: G20 and EPA and NOAA Interviews.
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View and Vote - Obama Green Stimulus Projects
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