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The United States in Bali had one goal: uphold the status quo. And that's exactly what it got. A status quo global climate change policy in the form of a roadmap that so far leads to nowhere specific and nothing new. Some say it’s even worse than Kyoto.

Worst part? No targets. No dates. And not a word that binds the US (or any nation) to any kind of mandatory emissions control scheme. The US delegation gave an inch on technology transfer but only to resist excessive pushback. Its boss has since caved on that too.

The final plan is absolutely progress-less. But why? What could possibly be so great about the largest economy in the world doing absolutely nothing?

Here’s a best guess. Four of them that underscore why the White House wants -- and needs -- to keep the globe-a-warming.