It's Hot... But it's Not Cause of Me

Monday kicks off the two week long climate summit in Copenhagen, Denmark. 192 countries are scheduled to meet in Copenhagen with the hopes of establishing a treaty that would ideally represent steps towards climate reform. A collaborative effort, between rich, industrialized nations and poor, developing ones, is facilitated through the summit with the intentions of promoting climate restoration. The summit is to mainly focus on the reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and the financing of clean energy technology for poorer nations by the richer nations.
Due to the stall in Congress concerning legislation, and Obama's decision to delay his attendance until the last day, many foresee that the summit will not result in more than a framework for the future. Obama’s delay is associated with his announcement of the reduction goal of emission by 17%, which China, India, Japan and the European Union responded to by outlining their own goals. The president wants to increase the chances for changes to be effected, and he sees the stressful last hours of a summit to be the best potential sphere of such change.
Although Obama does represent a characteristic of action for climate change, he is not the only factor because he has no impact without legislation from Congress. Other nations don't look at Congress as the power head of the American government, although it is the strongest legislative body of a democratic government in the world. Congress holds the very key in this dilemma of climate change. Any proposed action by Obama must be met by nationwide legislation, which is the case for his provision that is awaiting congressional action. Congress also controls the second goal to be addressed by the summit, the financing of clean energy technology in developing nations. This role goes along with the constitutionally based power of the "purse" and reasserts the power of Congress in this situation.
The Chief Environmental Affairs Correspondent at NBC News, Anne Thompson, asserts the impact Congress carries and the overall context of the Copenhagen summit.

"Some see Copenhagen as a test of U.S. leadership in the world. However, any
agreements made in Copenhagen will have to face domestic scrutiny as well. What
the world wants may not be what the Senate is willing to pass - and the
Senate will have to approve any climate treat".

Congress has found itself in a position of power over both the domestic and foreign spheres, which breaches the “2 presidencies” Wildavsky outlined. The legislative body of the United States is able to curtail the foreign policies set forth by the President due to its home bound impacts.

Environmentalists, country delegates and foreign law makers had looked at the election of Obama in 2008 as a 'win' for improvements in the climate effort- a policy window for international measures, so to speak. Obama's election marked an abandonment of American resistance established throughout the Bush administration and a progressive step forward for the U.S. in the future years of heightened awareness and action. Surprisingly, however, it seems that the Congress is to have just as much as an esteemed role in these upcoming decisions.