In the early hours of Saturday morning, the nations of the world rediscovered consensus on addressing global warming pollution at the international climate convention in Cancun, Mexico. As hosts of the 2010 conference, the Mexican government had to not only bring parties together to come to agreement on policy, but also to restore trust in global governance — the concept that the world’s nations can work together as one on the problems that face all of humanity. (Not to be confused, unless you’re Glenn Beck or Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), with the entirely different concept of “global government.”)
Late Friday night, the representatives of these varied nations chose hope. With a roar of applause overwhelming Bolivia’s dissenting voice, they strongly endorsed the Cancun Accords, comprehensive documents that allowed the United States and China — the world’s top economies and top polluters — to join the fight against global warming. Countries from every corner of the world noted the mortal threat from destroying our atmosphere through fossil-fuel pollution and supported this international agreement. Today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hailed the success of the United Nations process and the need to do much more:
In the days and months ahead, the United States will work with our friends and partners to keep the world focused on this urgent challenge and to continue building on this progress.
The Cancun compacts have restored hope that the governments of the world can in fact work together on global warming, but now the work at home has to begin.
ThinkProgress’s Brad Johnson has been reporting and tweeting live from the international climate talks in Cancun, Mexico.
