| All the way back in January 2004 Sir David A. | | | | community rest upon their...well, success |
| King, the Government's then chief scientific | | | | would be too strong a word, but the little |
| adviser, described global warming, and the | | | | bit that they have managed to achieve, until |
| climate change that it drives, as a greater | | | | the Copenhagen climate deal. General Ban |
| threat to the world than international | | | | Ki-moon, talking to the diplomats gathered to |
| terrorism. King, who caused quite a stir with | | | | celebrate the anniversary of the UN climate |
| his comments, said that industrialized | | | | panel, said that the politicians should aim |
| countries had a commitment to place a serious | | | | to make some serious headway before then this |
| effort into developing sustainable and carbon | | | | December in Poznan, Poland. The Kyoto |
| capture technologies. Now, over four years | | | | Protocol, which will expire in 2012, has been |
| on, the momentum that King called for has not | | | | largely seen as a complete failure in terms |
| materialized anywhere but in the showboating | | | | of reducing carbon emissions. 37 countries, |
| embroidery from our politicians and in the | | | | all developed, signed the protocol, but there |
| cynical green-washing from our captains of | | | | are some rather serious holes in the thing. |
| industry. The Kyoto agreement - which was | | | | For one, America and China have completely |
| widely seen as a last ditch attempt to press | | | | failed to impose any limits under Kyoto. For |
| the greed and stupidity that drive climate | | | | two, the carbon balance sheets ignore |
| change every just as much as the pollutants | | | | certain, little things. Like shipping and air |
| themselves - failed. Bush, in his enlightened | | | | travel. Whoops. The fear caused by the |
| wisdom, decided that further research into | | | | knowledge that climate change is already |
| climate change was needed before carbon taxes | | | | affecting us has resulting in an increased |
| could be introduced. Thus, 4% of the world's | | | | impetus in the battle between action and |
| population - America - continued to account | | | | continued inaction. The one hundred months |
| for over one fifth of the world's carbon | | | | campaign ( for example, reckons that "We have |
| emissions. A successor to Kyoto is due to be | | | | 100 months to save the planet", because after |
| thrashed out in 2009 amidst the lushly | | | | that we "could be beyond the climate's |
| upholstered suites and complimentary coffee | | | | 'tipping point, the point of no return.' |
| lined tables of Copenhagen's most suitable | | | | Talking to Reuters, Ban Ki-moon suggested |
| venue: the greenhouse-like Copenhagen | | | | that the Poland meeting should serve as a |
| Congress Centre. The centre will, in a | | | | "very successful bridge" for the later |
| completely non-symbolic gesture, be powered | | | | meetings in Copenhagen. It is encouraging |
| by its very own wind turbine. So this time, | | | | that climate change has stopped being seen as |
| you know they mean business. The reassurance | | | | a long term issue, and hopefully the |
| of a windmill and some serious political | | | | immediacy of its effects will bring about a |
| hyperbole and media speculation have not been | | | | mature, effectual political response to the |
| enough to persuade the UN Secretary, General | | | | problem. |
| Ban Ki-moon, to let the international | | | | |