Delegates from almost 190 countries have gathered in Bali, Indonesia, for talks on climate change. The talks started today and will last two weeks. The aim of the UN led talks is to work towards a new global pact by 2009, to fight climate change.There is an added urgency to these talks since on February 2nd The United Nations Scientific Panel studying climate change declared that the evidence of a warming trend is 'unequivocal,' and that human activity has 'very likely' been the driving force in that change over the last 50 years.
There is now mounting scientific evidence that the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from various sources has contributed significantly to raising the earth's temperature by more than 1 degree Fahrenheit since 1900. The debate now is not whether the earth is getting warmer or not, but what to do about it. Just how important the issue is right now can judged by the fact that former US Vice President Al Gore shared the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on climate change. He went on to win an Oscar for his documentary 'An Inconvenient Truth.' The significance attached to his contribution and his resultant popularity led to serious speculation that he may be the Democratic party's candidate in next year's US Presidential election.
The original treaty on climate change signed in 1992 set voluntary targets for curbing emissions of greenhouse gases, and was signed by almost all nations. Realizing that stricter action was needed, the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 set mandatory limits on emissions. It was ratified by 36 industrialized nations and is due to expire in 2012. It was not ratified by the US which is the largest producer of greenhouse gases.The US position is unlikely to change in Bali. President Bush remarked last week,'Our guiding principle is clear: we must lead the world to produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and we must do it in a way that does not undermine economic growth or prevent nations from delivering greater prosperity for the people.'
Developing nations, including China, which is set to become the biggest polluter, are also opposed to accepting any limits on greenhouse gas emissions, as they claim it will affect their growth plans which in turn will affect their fight against poverty.
The conference however got off to an auspicious start with Australia ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. This leaves the US as the only industrialized nation which has not ratified it.
The European Union, which is alarmed by the Arctic ice melt this year, and also recognizes the vast business opportunities thrown up by the trade in carbon credits under the so called cap and trade system, has pledged to cut emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020.
Although different nations have so far taken different stands depending upon their perceived self interest, it is time they got together and viewed things from a global perspective before it is too late.