Copenhagen: seen positively
March 25, 2010
Interesting environmental comment on the success or otherwise of the climate change talks at Copenhagen. Prof Will Steffen from ANU has enunciated clear reasons why Copenhagen – and the Accord in particular – was a positive step forward. There is a podcast link at http://www.anu.edu.au/climatechange/content/news/post-copenhagen-event-podcast-and-online-questions/.
Prof Steffen points out that whilst Kyoto was legally binding, only 30% of emitters signed, whereas Copenhagen, whilst not legally binding, has 80% including China and the US. He also notes that enforcement of any breaches of Kyoto was never attempted, whereas the Accord has a weight of highly public undertaking behind it.
There is along way to go but Copenhagen can be seen positively as a further step in the right direction.
On the environment see Environmental stewardship: some general principles and Climate change at sea.
Leave a Reply