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As we get near crunch time at Copenhagen, it has become obvious that the United States is not poised to deliver the kind of leadership that other countries would like to see. The plain truth is that America's political system is in the middle of a right-wing temper tantrum that is unlikely to end any time soon, certainly not in time to deliver a clear message on climate change by December.As Americans, we are used to being the country that everyone turns to in a crisis. Well, right now we are a house divided. Sooner or later we will get our house in order, but for now others will have to carry the fight forward. As unfair as it might seem, the job of being the grown-ups may fall on the shoulders of other countries such as China and India.
The ironies are obvious. The developing world is quite right saying that the developed world caused the problem and should bear the main burden of fixing it. They are also right in saying that the developing world should not be asked to cut back on emissions if the developed world won't do the same and more.
But nobody said life was fair. With the United States unable to provide the needed leadership it will be up to some other country or countries to fill the vacuum.
China and India have a choice. They can use this situation to protect their own interests or they can kick it up a notch and become the true world leaders they say they want to be.
It will be interesting to see if either or both rises to the challenge.
This essay first appeared on Planet Restart.org
