Climate Talks ending with agreement? Rich Nations and Corporations exercise control

http://www.alternet.org/environment/cop21-paris-delegates-agree-draft-climate-deal-big-questions-remain?akid=13741.294211.q8U0_L&rd=1&src=newsletter1046852&t=10

ENVIRONMENT

Huge Questions About Paris Climate Agreement as Rich Nations and Giant Polluters Exercise Control

With the rich nations clearly in charge and big polluters acting as corporate sponsors, is a meaningful climate change agreement truly possible?

While the draft outcome released this morning for negotiation next week will likely be met with applause by Global North governments and their corporate board room backers, it fails to deliver meaningfully toward the systemic transition climate change requires. At the core of this failure are the obstinate negotiating positions of the U.S. and other Global North governments who are bent on deregulating the global rules applying to them and advancing the financial needs of big business over the survival needs of people.

And, despite the image of hope and action President Obama and other leaders painted on Monday, the chasm between rhetoric and action continues to grow. Whether it’s finance or technology, loss and damage or differentiation, the positions reflected in this text are heavily biased towards the U.S., Japan, EU and other Global North countries, and the emissions-intensive industries they represent.

The U.S. position, for example, reflects the strong limits placed on U.S. climate action by a Congress overrun by the unconstrained campaign spending of Koch Industries, Exxon Mobil and other big polluters. As a result, President Obama has said the United States can’t accept a legally binding agreement and is failing to come forward with any new commitments on important issues like finance, technology and capacity.