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.