Monday, April 13, 2009

Problems with new climate deal

Though the world agrees upon necessity of new international climate deal if we want to stop climate change and global warming there are still lot of different questions in the air that need to be solved before the final deal is made. The most difficult question prior to this deal looks to be how much should rich countries decrease their greenhouse gas emissions. Of course, things are never easy when politics is involved.

Rich developed countries are ready to make greenhouse gases cuts but these greenhouse gases cuts look to be significantly smaller of that what developing countries and many environmentalists expect. Developing countries expect rich nations to curb their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 %, and on the other hand many developed countries are not ready to go beyond 20-25 %.

Science, in this case, is supporting developing countries because many scientists believe that only 40+ greenhouse gases cuts will slow down global warming impact in years to come. However science is one thing, and politics and industry completely different things. Basically rich countries are still not ready to sacrifice many of their industries to ensure 40+ greenhouse gases cuts. Industry lobbies in many rich countries are extremely powerful, often with huge political influence, and politicians are in most cases reluctant to work against them.

And there is also the infamous financial crisis, mother of all excuses for rich countries. Financial crisis solution is still No.1 thing for many rich countries, and climate change solution still doesn't look as important as it should be. Well at least now U.S. is involved, and that's definitely a move in the right direction. However it looks like Obama, who vowed rapid action on climate change is turning more and more passive on climate change issue like he is waiting broad support from entire nation before passing it over to Congress. At the same time, overseas, American politicians are telling their counterparts that they need more time before nation accepts an ambitious carbon reduction scheme.

Well this definitely isn't the right attitude from country that is expected to lead world to a new international climate deal. Will politics be once again delaying so much needed international climate pact? We'll soon see.

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