The focus of attention of the people from all corners of the globe is on Copenhagen , the venue for the UN Climate Summit which has the single most important business in its agenda viz., to find a way forward to prepare the road-map for the world to move towards low-carbon dispensation at the same time ensuring economic development and prosperity and a safe climate for all of us. The goal is laudable and very ambitious indeed. The interesting facet of this grave problem of wild climatic variations is that the destructive effects of climate change spare none- poor or rich, capitalists or communist! In a sense we can call it the great leveller!
The world has looked the other way when the Mother Nature tried a few of her tricks to awaken us. Man is called a rational animal but how often do we conduct ourselves rationally unless forced into?
Although it is heartening to see that a UN sponsored summit is underway and the political head would converge at Copenhagen to put their brains to break the climate deadlock and to find pragmatic and practical solutions by framing a comprehensive climate policy framework.
The prospects of any early and major breakthrough in this summits look a little in the light of very poor progress made between USA and China at the bilateral level.
It is an established fact which may be galling to the developed countries that these are the original sinners and contributed most to the sharply deteriorating climatic situation and unless the countries are prepare to accept deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions . Any hope of breaking any fresh grounds in this regard would prove be illusory The US President Barack Obama's recent trip to China was expected to produce some agreement between these countries in the form of commitments to cut down on their respective emission levels but simply did not happen as the US Congress is not prepared to any cuts on greenhouse emissions this year. And the tug of war between the old rich economies which, by their reckless use of fossil fuels, made it to the top and the rapidly developing economies on the question capping their emission levels.