At Meeting on Climate Change, Urgent Issues but Low Expectations

Yesterday John Broder of the New York Times reported on the expectations of the 17th conference of the United Nations convention on Climate Change. Delegates from 194 nations gathered today in Durban, South Africa to address the dangerous climate changes and the increase of natural disasters that have lead to economic devastation. Four key points will be addressed that is sure to cause some debate. First are the obligations of developing nations and who will help poor nations to adapt? This brings up the discussion of the need and demand for clean technology. Last, there is an urgency to protect tropical forests, which contain high levels of bio-diversity which make them hotspots that must be preserved. While discussing solutions and future progress, the conference is hindered by skepticism of those who do not believe in global warming/climate change. Unfortunately these skeptics come from the United States Congress, whose support is greatly needed to make great changes.
Scientists believe that arguing will only delay what needs to be done by all to reduce emissions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released a detailed assessment of future extreme climate events (drought, floods, cyclones, etc.) if something is not done quickly by the global community. Broder wraps up his article by reflecting on the past conferences that had little impact on the global community. The Kyoto Protocol that was established in 1997 was the first major global effort to reduce emissions. Unfortunately this only made a small dent in making a much needed difference due to the lack of support from the United States Government.
It is very interesting how the global community has spent the past 20 yrs arguing over what must be done when the answers are there all along. Everyday new technology is invented to produce clean energy and help reduce pollution. However, our future is the hands of our politicians and they must see the need to work together instead of themselves in order to make a difference. Hopefully with the multiple natural disasters that we have experienced in the past years world leaders will work harder for a better tomorrow.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/28/science/earth/nations-meet-to-address-problems-of-climate-change.html?ref=science