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Why are the greatest achievements of 2020 the things most beneficial to the parochial interest of the United States? The rebalancing of the US energy sector to

Why are the greatest achievements of 2020 the things most beneficial to the parochial interest of the United States? The rebalancing of the US energy sector to natural gas has locked it into a new fossil fuel economy, at the very time that we need breakneck renewable investment. Oncoming carbon regulation, consumer reaction against gas, and the declining price-point of renewables, mean that the US is sitting on a carbon bubble waiting to explode. One of the real silver linings of 2020, conspicuously absent from the Vox article, is that South Korea, Japan and China all committed to reach net zero emissions by around mid century, while the EU also brought forward it's targets. I would add that the Iranian nuclear deal is now being revived, breaking the power of militaristic hardliners in Iran, and quashing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Note that both were achieved despite the US: it left the Paris Agreement and reneged on its commitment to the Iranian nuclear deal.

3131s 6y ago
> I would add that the Iranian nuclear deal is now being revived, breaking the power of militaristic hardliners in Iran As far as I know Biden has not taken any step toward this so far, but many House Democrats are urging him to do so. At the same time though powerful lobbying interests are pushing for the deal to be renegotiated under stricter terms, so I wouldn't count our eggs too early. More importantly, I would think this is entirely negated by the fact that we just murdered two of their country's most prominent public figures. Diplomatic relations might improve, but I have to imagine that a lot of Iranians would be radicalized by these events and not really care which particular administration is responsible ultimately. Trump might catch the blame, but these type of targeted killings in Iran of scientists and other civilians go back much further than just the last term.
- Emma_Goldman 6y ago
  An article was published under Biden's name in the May/April issue of Foreign Affairs in which he explicitly committed to rejoining the deal. It is almost certain that he will try, and just as importantly, the EU is onboard. It was supposed to be a legacy achievement for the Obama-Biden administration, it's obviously in his interests to revive it. Iranian contempt for the United States is nothing new. It didn't block an agreement in both party's interests last time, and it doesn't have to now.

3131s 6y ago

> I would add that the Iranian nuclear deal is now being revived, breaking the power of militaristic hardliners in Iran As far as I know Biden has not taken any step toward this so far, but many House Democrats are urging him to do so. At the same time though powerful lobbying interests are pushing for the deal to be renegotiated under stricter terms, so I wouldn't count our eggs too early. More importantly, I would think this is entirely negated by the fact that we just murdered two of their country's most prominent public figures. Diplomatic relations might improve, but I have to imagine that a lot of Iranians would be radicalized by these events and not really care which particular administration is responsible ultimately. Trump might catch the blame, but these type of targeted killings in Iran of scientists and other civilians go back much further than just the last term.

Emma_Goldman 6y ago
An article was published under Biden's name in the May/April issue of Foreign Affairs in which he explicitly committed to rejoining the deal. It is almost certain that he will try, and just as importantly, the EU is onboard. It was supposed to be a legacy achievement for the Obama-Biden administration, it's obviously in his interests to revive it. Iranian contempt for the United States is nothing new. It didn't block an agreement in both party's interests last time, and it doesn't have to now.