But the optimists couldn’t carry the day. As Obama himself said at the Copenhagen summit, “While the reality of climate change is not in doubt, I have to be honest — as the world watches us today, I think our ability to take collective action is in doubt.”

Now, world leaders are preparing for a new round of talks scheduled for December, in Paris. While Copenhagen ended with few concrete results, Rebecca Lefton, director of policy and research at Climate Advisers, says the international fight against climate change is inspiring hope — and this time, that hope that isn’t dependent on the man who used it as his campaign slogan.

“We’re seeing a new level of cooperation between major emitting economies,” Lefton says. “This is something that President Obama has been doing, especially in the second part of his administration.”

Though the Obama Administration is working to design strategies to fight against climate change at home, the White House has also woven the issue into the president’s foreign policy agenda. For example, in November 2014, President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping established a landmark agreement to cut carbon emissions by 2030. The Obama administration is also working with Brazil and India on climate change.

Author: T.J. Raphael
Available at: http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-09-21/signs-suggest-time-right-climate-change-breakthrough-upcoming-paris-conference