The world community agrees that we must maintain an open world trading system. It also agrees that we need to address global warming. Yet our leaders have failed to reach agreement on how to best meet these challenges.
Recommendations
The next President will more likely succeed with an approach that:
- lays the ground domestically for diplomatic initiatives by mustering public and congressional backing, rather than waiting for negotiators to bring home a signed treaty
- seeks breakthroughs on trade and climate change that complement each another, thereby creating cross-cutting coalitions to support both efforts
- pays more attention to developing nations early in the process, since their influence over the outcome—for good or ill—is increasing
- uses American leadership to improve the effectiveness of the international institutions responsible for dealing with these challenges
Download Position Paper (PDF)
Download Fact Sheet (PDF)
Opportunity 08 aims to help 2008 presidential candidates and the public focus on critical issues facing the nation, presenting policy ideas on a wide array of domestic and foreign policy questions. The project is committed to providing both independent policy solutions and background material on issues of concern to voters.
