Environmentalists are disappointed because all their efforts were wasted at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The conference called to stop global warning could not reach any definite legal or binding conclusions. Nevertheless, an agreement has, more or less, been reached on a proposal that includes a future direction.
Commitment To Limit Average Global Warming
The most important point in the proposal is commitment to limit average global warming to two degrees Celsius, equivalent to the pre-industrial era. In order to do this, all countries are expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions voluntarily. International surveillance systems will keep a watch on these cuts. Some regular financial aid has been promised to poor countries. This is likely to prevent them from cutting down trees recklessly. They will be encouraged to adopt technology that would help in reducing emissions.
Some countries facing a threat to their existence because of the rise in sea level have vehemently opposed this proposal. Some Latin American countries also raised objections on the ground that it did not follow the procedure for reaching an agreement. As a matter of fact, conditions at Copenhagen could not perhaps allow even a word of thanks by way of a joint proposal. Seeing two weeks of hard labor going waste, US President Barack Obama convened a small meeting of heads of States of India, China, Brazil, and South Africa. The proposal was drafted on the basis of the points agreed upon at this meeting. It would be advisable to accept this proposal as better than nothing, instead of rejecting it outright.
European countries, especially those in the North, and Japan have a different agenda on environment. They do not have much problem is getting the support of the most distressed countries either. It is, however, difficult to convince them and jealous environmentalists throughout the world of the problems related to emission cuts of developing countries like India and China.
Instead of going too far, let us take the case of Delhi alone. In order to reduce pollution, a court order was passed directing factories to move out of the city. Thousands of laborers became unemployed as a result of this situation, which had occurred some years ago. They have still not been able to find jobs. Perhaps, millions of people will die by 2050 due to global warning. But if factories of India and China close down, the number of deaths from starvation will exceed this number by far in 10 to 20 years.
For 150 years, countries of Europe, and later the United States, were responsible for covering the world with smoke. Yet, they are advising India and China to adopt pollution-free technology! Instead of indulging in such an exercise, these countries ought to find a technology to make their power factories and cars pollution free, and pass it on to developing countries, free of cost.
Promise of Clean Air
It could be said about what took place in Copenhagen that there was nothing unexpected in it. Copenhagen summit chairperson Denmark, and several other countries had already said that there would be no legally binding agreement in Copenhagen. Developed countries were against any legal binding, as they knew that they would not be able to fulfill any commitment. Countries like India and China were against it because they knew that developed countries would put the burden on them. African countries and other countries standing on much lower rung of development did want an agreement with some kind of legal binding, because only they would have to suffer the worst consequences of climate change, and they would benefit from any agreement to reduce carbon emission.
But the attitude of developed and big developing countries has proved that any international agreement or organization could be successful only when it is least binding and most flexible. We should also understand the compulsions of leaders of all countries. They are first accountable to people of their countries, and leaders of a country like India could only accept any binding agreement when it does not harm development of its people. A long time after independence, India has come on the path of rapid development and Indian leaders could not even think of applying brakes on it now.
At the same time, developed countries are so habituated to their lavish lifestyle that it is futile to expect them to sacrifice it. As far as poor countries are concerned, they have nothing to sacrifice. In this situation, we should think what good could be found from Copenhagen, and what could be the done really to save the environment.
Better Targets in Future
The first good thing though little, that has taken place, is we have moved forward, and environmental protection would come first for consideration in development programs, and we would be able to decide better targets in the future. It could be said that this is not enough, and there isn't enough time to move forward so slowly.
It is necessary to work on priority at two levels. For one, research in technology and science to protect environment should be increased and results of it should be made available easily to all. Second, along with reducing carbon emission, we should strengthen those forces of nature that help it fight pollution.
Measures To Save Earth
The world did not expect that following such sharp differences over measures to save the earth, all countries would start speaking in one voice, but it was also not expected that instead of implementing the Kyoto Protocol, they would allow it to die. It is not wrong to look at the agreement brought about by the United States and BASIC countries (India, China, Brazil, and South Africa) from this viewpoint.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, 37 industrialized nations, besides the United States, were bound to cut their greenhouse gas emission level by five percent until 2012. In Copenhagen, they were involved in the exercise of developing a consensus on implementing this binding reduction target and bringing the United States within its ambit. After all, what is the worth of reducing greenhouse gas level from five percent to two percent and making it voluntary instead of compulsory? These 37 countries that were tied down by the Kyoto protocol have also become free like the United States.
In addition, the BASIC countries became flexible in the matter of international monitoring for reduction in emission level. This was done very skillfully under the cover of discussion, help, or facility of technology for greenhouse gas emission with international agencies. The United States brought in this provision to corner China.
Relief to Developing and Poor Countries
In the summit, developing countries were hoping that they would be able to acquire the technology from rich countries to cut down greenhouse gases emission, but that did not happen. There was also no discussion on measures to prevent destruction of forests that bring rains for agriculture, fodder for livestock, and development. By doing so, Indonesia and Brazil have become the third and fourth biggest greenhouse gas emitting countries of the world.
Of course, it is an achievement that rich industrialized countries have agreed to give billions of dollars, in short and long-term measures, to provide relief to developing and poor countries from natural calamities coming as a result of greenhouse gas emission. If you look at it, this is like continuing the treatment while the disease persists. One does not know whether, despite this lifeless agreement, Al Gore would be able to convince Obama for any new agreement on "Earth Day" next year.
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