Nations Prepare Amid a Crossfire of Opinions on Paris Talks

"As diplomats prepare for a last preliminary round of U.N. climate change talks next week in the hopes of completing an international accord in Paris in December, a leading GOP operative is calling for Congress to cripple the deal.

In a new study released yesterday, Oren Cass, who advised former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on domestic policy in the 2012 campaign, called the international negotiations a 'farce.' The U.S. Senate, he argued, should pass a resolution rejecting in advance any agreement that fails to legally bind developing nations to their targets or promises money to help them achieve their goals.

'If by doing that you torpedo Paris, then so be it,' Cass said. 'Paris wasn't going to produce something meaningful anyway. It's very much an "emperor has no clothes" situation.'"

Lisa Friedman reports for ClimateWire October 16, 2015.

SEE ALSO:

"How U.N. Climate Negotiations Are Like Splitting A Bar Tab" (NPR)

"France Hopeful on Climate Deal After Rocky Start To U.N. Talks" (Reuters)

"Beefed-Up Draft Climate Deal To Form Basis For UN Paris Talks" (Reuters)

"The Bumpy Road to Paris" (New Yorker)

"Climate Countdown: Tensions Ahead of Last Round of UN Climate Talks Before Paris Conference" (AP)

"Bonn Talks Boost Hopes for Strong Climate Deal in Paris" (Summit County Voice)

"Pathway To $100Bn Emerging Ahead of Paris Climate Summit" (Climate Home)

"Can Climate Negotiators Reach a Final Draft in Bonn This Week?" (UN Dispatch)