Energy Security and Climate Initiative
[On the role of the United States in the COP 24 climate negotiations under the Trump administration] The United States played a really big role in the negotiating process during the Obama years. That whole political level is not there. The US as a country does not have credibility or leverage here. It's hard not to have a strong US role in international affairs, period. Things happen when the US engages, and it's hard to make consequential things happen with the US on the sidelines. Not to mention the US on the sidelines throwing spitballs.
[On the future of the Paris Agreement, and reflections at the COP 24 U.N. climate negotiations] My concern is to try to preserve and facilitate what was agreed to in Paris, without it getting off the track.
[On the role of the United States in the U.N. climate negotiations at COP 24] I think [the state department negotiators] are doing a good job. And I think they are appreciated as being serious and knowledgeable and effective and cordial.
Brookings Senior Fellow and former U.S. State Department Special Envoy on Climate Todd Stern spoke at the US Climate Action Center, at the COP 24 UN climate negotiations, on the future of the Paris Agreement in Katowice, Poland on December 10, 2018.
[On the U.S. negotiating team at the COP 24 climate negotiations in Katowice, Poland] They work seriously, effectively and knowledgeably. There is only this technical negotiating team, not a political one.
[On the role of the United States in the U.N. climate negotiations at COP 24 in Katowice, Poland] You cannot underestimate the negative impact of the U.S. being on the sidelines. With Obama, the U.S. had credibility. We brought China along. We moved a lot of countries out of their comfort zones. That’s all missing now.
[On a Trump administration event on coal on the margins of the COP 24 climate negotiations in Katowice, Poland] It’s difficult for me to say how much a difference it will make in the negotiating room. They are doing some unhelpful things around the edges.
[On COP24 U.N. climate negotiations in Poland and the Paris Agreement "rulebook"] Paris was a breakthrough, but Paris has to be ... brought to life in an operational sense by the rules ... that will hopefully get agreed to at this COP.
