Kalin, Knuth bullish on Copenhagen accord

State Reps. Jeremy Kalin and Kate Knuth traveled to Copenhagen for the recently concluded international summit on climate change.  While many environmentalists have expressed disappointment at the accord hashed out on the final day of the conference, the Democratic legislators insisted that the agreement provides a valuable framework for addressing the issue.

“I think politically it’s turning the ship in a really positive way,” Knuth told reporters at the Capitol today. “From a scientific perspective there’s a lot more we need to do.”

Kalin praised the inclusion of non-European countries in the agreement that was worked out. “For a long time we’ve heard the argument that the United States and Minnesota shouldn’t act without the developing countries of China and India at the table,” he noted. ”Well we have an agreement.”

The legislators also expressed disappointment that no representative from Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s administration attended the conference. Knuth noted that Pawlenty had been a leading voice for addressing climate change, but has recently dialed back his comments as he mulls a 2012 presidential bid.

“We’re not seeing that leadership at all now,” Knuth said. “I think there’s clearly a shift in position and policy priorities.”