environment

Global Climate Change the Topic of the Boise Frank Church Conference

By Sharon Fisher, 10-20-09

Recalling her late husband’s statement, “Give Earth a chance,” Bethine Church opened the 26th annual Frank Church Conference on the Global Environment in Boise.

Subtitled “From Kyoto to Copenhagen,” the conference focused on climate change since the Kyoto Protocol—which then-President George W. Bush refused in 2001 to sign—and the approach of the Copenhagen Climate Conference, scheduled for December, which Church speakers expect President Barack Obama to attend.

The meeting was held at the same time that some experts are saying they doubt a comprehensive and binding new treaty on global warming will result, though they still consider the meeting to be significant.

Named after the late Idaho Senator Frank Church, who championed environmental causes, particularly the designation of wilderness areas, the Frank Church Institute, located at Boise State University, is intended to honor Church’s achievements and carry forward his principles through methods such as holding these annual conferences and funding a professorship in international relations each year. This year’s was awarded to Dr. Gregory Raymond.

Two major issues are slated to be discussed on Copenhagen, said speaker Dr. John Reading, vice president and consulting economist for Ben Johnson and Associates. First is the continuing problem of reducing emissions, and second is how the so-called developed world is going to help the developing world reduce its emissions.

“The developing countries say, ‘You already got it, you already trashed the planet, you need to help us,’” Reading said.

The developing world is asking for tens of billions of dollars in foreign aid from countries such as the U.S., said former Florida congressman Dan Miller, which is not likely to go over well in the current economic climate, he said.

“The obstacles on meaningful legislation in this area are formidable,” said former New York congressman Matthew McHugh.

However, it’s important for developing countries to reduce their emissions, which are continuing to grow despite the Kyoto Protocol, said Michael Buck, a representative from the National Association of Foresters. “Kyoto has not worked,” he said. “It raised attention, but as far as cutting emissions, everything is still on the rise.” In addition, global warming caused by increased emissions is most likely to affect the poorest nations, he said.

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