Testimony Before the Select Committee On Energy Independence and Global Warming

The testimony asserts that the U.S. has a critical opportunity to lead global climate action because major developing countries are now more willing to commit to emissions reductions than they were during the Kyoto Protocol era. It advocates for a new international agreement based on the Bali Action Plan's 'measurable, reportable and verifiable' (MRV) framework to ensure accountability. The author emphasizes that while developing nations' actions may focus on reducing emissions growth rather than absolute cuts, U.S. support in finance and technology—particularly for adaptation—is essential for a successful global deal.

• Current climate science indicates that global warming is accelerating and occurring faster than previous models predicted, with observed impacts already resulting from a 0.8 degrees centigrade increase in temperature.
• Global climate success depends on engaging major developing countries, as fifteen countries (including the EU as one entity) produce nearly 80% of global emissions, nine of which are developing economies.
• Major developing nations have shifted their approach since the Kyoto Protocol, implementing national climate plans driven by risks to their own development, energy security concerns, and the desire to lead in clean energy technology.
• Specific examples of developing country climate actions include Brazil's goal to reduce deforestation by over 50% by 2017, China's target to reduce energy intensity by 20% by 2010, Mexico's pledge to halve GHG emissions by 2050, and South Africa's plan to peak emissions by 2020.
• The Bali Action Plan (BAP) provides a framework for a post-2012 agreement that differs from the Kyoto Protocol by requiring 'measurable, reportable and verifiable' (MRV) mitigation actions from both developed and developing countries.
• Developing country commitments will likely focus on reducing the rate of emissions growth rather than absolute cuts due to lower per-capita emissions and significant populations lacking basic electricity.
• There is a significant gap between the financial expectations of developing countries—some proposing that Annex I countries commit 0.5-1% of GDP—and the current levels of U.S. financial offers for international mitigation and adaptation.

APA

Bradley, R. (2009). Testimony Before the Select Committee On Energy Independence and Global Warming. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/publications/testimony-select-committee-energy-independence-and-global-warming

Chicago

Bradley, Rob. Testimony Before the Select Committee On Energy Independence and Global Warming. World Resources Institute, 2009. https://www.wri.org/publications/testimony-select-committee-energy-independence-and-global-warming.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Bradley |first1=Rob |title=Testimony Before the Select Committee On Energy Independence and Global Warming |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=4 February 2009 |url=https://www.wri.org/publications/testimony-select-committee-energy-independence-and-global-warming |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{bradley2009testimony, author = {Bradley, Rob}, title = {{Testimony Before the Select Committee On Energy Independence and Global Warming}}, publisher = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2009}, month = feb, url = {https://www.wri.org/publications/testimony-select-committee-energy-independence-and-global-warming}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }