After a fortnight of talks and, at times, heated exchanges in Bali, Indonesia, the United Nations Climate Change Conference concluded its work.
In the last hours of the much-disputed conference, the EU threatened the United States with boycotting the upcoming US-sponsored climate change meeting in Hawaii. They said the Hawaii meeting would be meaningless if there is no deal on limiting carbon emissions by the world’s major countries, including the United States, in Bali.
Heads of the departments of environment of European countries also threatened that they will not participate in the Hawaii confab if the United States obstructs two weeks of climate efforts and talks in Bali. The threat was fruitful, as the US withdrew from its obstructionism and finally a settlement was reached between the United States--the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases--and the international community.
Almost all countries attending the conference were keen on finding a proper replacement for the Kyoto Protocol. Terms stipulated in the protocol are only valid until 2012. Although almost none of the goals of the Kyoto Protocol materialized due to the withdrawal of the US from the international treaty, leaders around the globe are hopeful of stopping further climate change.
Concerns are heightening across the world, as the phenomenon is inflicting more and more losses on humans and the environment. Arctic ice melting is at its record high; water level in seas and oceans is rising; deserts are expanding and agro-lands are facing destruction.
And millions of people are dying from hunger and poverty in Africa and parts of Asia. This is only a part of the dangers of climate change, which will threaten more lives in future.
Scientists say nothing is more dangerous than climate change for humans and the environment. They foresee the disappearance of thousands of plant and animal species, should countries fail to reach agreement to curb greenhouse gases.
Efforts have been made by some governments in the past decade to reduce the impact of climate change, particularly by reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
The United States is opposed to the Kyoto Protocol under the pressure of industrialists owning polluting factories.
The US is producing 25 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. And American obstructionism over global warming has infuriated even its close allies in Europe and Asia.
Former US Vice President Al Gore lashed out at his country for emitting greenhouse gases. The Nobel Peace Prize winner and conservationist, who was once a presidential rival of George W. Bush, said he is sorry that his country is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
Australia has also joined the Kyoto Protocol after years of denial and refusal.
This indicates that the US government is politically isolated over its illogical and unsustainable stance regarding climate change. In fact, the US is the only industrial nation that has rejected calls to join efforts to curb global warming.
The US government, under the leadership of neocons, is continuing its opposition to a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol. Failure to reach agreement over a new document to avert global warming by 2012 will make the world face more environmental chaos in future.
The Bali conference was the first step to save the Earth. If global powers such as the US, China, Russia and India yield to international efforts to confront global warming, scientists can be hopeful.