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The upcoming Copenhagen climate-change summit has been on the minds of environmentalists for more than a year; not since Kyoto in 1997 have climate discussions garnered as much international attention. And this time, with growing knowledge of the effects of climate change, the stakes are higher. The internationally respected economist and climate-change researcher Nicholas Stern labeled Copenhagen "the most important meeting since the Second World War." Ironically, it is only now, when the meeting looks doomed to failure, that President Obama has announced his intention to go. Why? Because low expectations make for good politics.

At first it seemed logical that Obama would attend. His campaign platform included both a commitment to addressing climate change and a stated desire...