Poll: Other countries believe Obama can lead climate change movement

Carbon emissions legislation may remain at a crossroads in Congress, but large swaths of citizens in other countries seem to think President Barack Obama could break that stalemate.

A new poll, released Wednesday, finds majorities or pluralities in 21 of 25 surveyed countries believe the president will persuade the United States to commit to "significant measures" to address global climate change.

That sentiment is especially pronounced among those in Brazil, Britain, France, Germany and Spain, according to the Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project. In those countries, more than two-thirds expressed faith that the president will provide the boost necessary to get climate change legislation rolling.  

Interestingly enough, it is unclear whether U.S. citizens and lawmakers feel similarly about the White House's ability to spearhead a campaign to address global warming.

For one thing, Obama's forthcoming trip to Copenhagen for an international climate change summit has already drawn the ire of many members of Congress, some of whom have clearly signaled they will oppose any carbon reductions treaty the president and other world leaders draft there.

At the same time, the future of Democrats' cap-and-trade legislation remains totally uncertain. Healthcare has to some degree relegated that legislation to the back burner in the Senate, which is trying to address its top priority before it departs Washington for the holiday season.

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