Climate change is speeding up; according to a recent study by the British Antarctic Society released in February 2009. India and China are building more coal burning power plants than ever before to meet their demand for energy. They rightly argue that developed nations need to offer more in terms of the global warming debate to developing nations. Specifically when it comes to the determination of carbon emissions reduction and limits, as compared to the developing world.
Why? Because developed nations are largely responsible for the current levels of climate change through GHG emissions over the last 50 years or so.
The question is with climate change starting to reach or pass the “tipping point”, a point of accelerated consequences for the planet, and the next round of climate debate scheduled to be held in Denmark, December 2009.
Are we acting fast enough to make any difference?
“A vast expanse of western Siberia is undergoing an unprecedented thaw that could dramatically increase the rate of global warming, climate scientists warn today.
Researchers who have recently returned from the region found that an area of permafrost spanning a million square kilometres – the size of France and Germany combined – has started to melt for the first time since it formed 11,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age.” …guardian UK
The politicians’ can talk and talk, each one of them seeking to benefit/protect their own country from over-burdensome regulations, and maintain the competitive advantage in terms of global trade. E.g. India and China
With the global economic crisis threatening to shift global wealth from the US and Europe to the developing world of Asia, it remains to be seen if the developed nations are indeed willing to contribute more (essentially subsidizing Asia and Africa) financially in terms of carbon concessions to Asia/Africa and stricter environmental caps on their own industry, an industry already under immense pressure from the global slowdown.
Personally I think some/all of the politicking and self-interest needs to come second to a new global citizenship dedicated to the development of a global plan to combat climate change. We need to work together to achieve the changes required. Its not important where or by whom carbon emissions are emitted into the atmosphere, we all share the same atmosphere and a carbon reduction in Argentina has the same carbon reducing effect as a reduction in Australia, Japan, India or Germany.
Think globally, act locally!
Stay Green.
