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Climate Change Conference: Little Progress
Some Action Coming by 2008: The two-week-long U.N. conference on climate change wrapped up today in Nairobi, Kenya, with what seems like very little to show for the effort. According to the Associated Press ("Climate conference settles on next steps to negotiate future emissions cuts"), China did agree to a review of the Kyoto Protocol by 2008, a step that is "crucial toward setting new quotas on carbon dioxide and other emissions." But the United States is still rejecting Kyoto, and as the largest polluter, hindering progress.
Earlier in the week, a report came out ranking countries in their efforts to fight climate change. Sweden, Britain and Denmark are doing the most; the United States - the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases - ranked at 53, with only China, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia doing worse. See full list.
As for the African hosts, they seem upset they are not getting more funds to fight global warming, yet their continent is very vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation reports "Stalemate over funds mark end of climate conference".
The Gristmill blog has a roundup of other news outlets' take on the story.
What is your take on the conference? Should the United States being doing more? I think so. It wouldn't hurt the U.S. economy to boost renewable-energy industries and create some new jobs there. Have we shied away from new technologies before? Do we want other countries to get a larger lead in producing wind, solar and other technologies? Even if the U.S. government won't act, banks and investment corporations are. Maybe this will force the government's hand one day. (See "Green turns to gold in global warming battle".
Thoughts?
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11/30/06 3:08 PM