U.N. climate talks open, deal "within reach"

On Monday, December 7th the largest climate meeting ever began with over 15,000 representatives from 192 countries worldwide in Copenhagen, Denmark. The first order of business is to protect the planet and that if we do not act fast the results could be extremely detrimental for the Earth's future. They are seeking to sign the first climate pact in over 12 years. The talks will continue until the 18th, with hopes to reach an agreement to cut down the use of greenhouse gas emissions for the rich by 2020 and raise money for those in aid. The prime minister of Denmark, Ramussen, opened up to the talks. "The presence of so many world leaders reflects an unprecedented mobilization of political determination to combat climate change. It represents a huge opportunity. An opportunity the world cannot afford to miss" Rasmussen said.

However, the summit is met with a number of people at odds with the true meaning of the climate pact. A lot of the lesser developed countries are worried about where the pact's priorities will lie. The top emitters are China, the US, Russia and India and with their presence at the meeting has raised hopes for new negotiations after the past two years. South Africa said Sunday that it would cut its carbon emissions to 34% below its expected 2020 levels, if more developed countries can aid them both financially and technologically. Rajendra Pachauri, the head of the U.N. panel of climate scientists, said "action was needed to avoid more intense cyclones, heatwaves, floods, and possible loss of the Greenland ice sheet, which could mean a sea level rise of 7 meters over centuries. "He said that even a widely accepted goal of limiting global warming to a maximum of 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial times could still bring an increase in sea levels that "could submerge several small island states and Bangladesh.""The evidence is now overwhelming that the world would benefit greatly from early action, and that delay would only lead to costs in economic and human terms that would become progressively high," he said.

While the idea of reaching a global climate pact, an alliance between countries; to benefit the planet as a whole is an ambitious idea, the overwhelming evidence for human processes negatively influencing the country is astonishing and can only be accomplished if those from countries such as the US and China, aid those lesser financially developed countries such as Bangladesh and South Africa. While the pact remains a smart idea, it is only until those who sign it actually carry out the agreement, and assist those other countries in need.

"Humanity faces a profound emergency. Unless we combine to take decisive action, climate change will ravage our planet"

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5B517O20091207