drama in Bali – and a global agreement to agree to a climate change deal
December 15, 2007
The following articles say it better than I can – so I’ll just quickly note that the climate summit in Bali has concluded with a deal to make a deal. Ie, the nations of the world now have a “roadmap” on how to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that lead to climate change. It will guide them over the next two years, as they hammer out a final climate treaty. Basically, they now know what topics are on the table for negotiation. (More detail on this later, once I find some more in-depth analysis.)
The U.S. – um – how to put this? OK, I’ll just put it – we about derailed the whole thing. (The audio tape in the NPR story does a good job getting across this part of the story.)
However. After a universal backlash that made it clear the U.S. position on climate change had totally isolated the country from the rest of the international community, our delegate changed position.
Climate Roadmap Emerges from Grueling Bali Talks (NPR)
Late Reversal by U.S. Yields Climate Plan (NYTimes)
Related issues – new initiatives proposed at Bali to keep developing nations from cutting down rainforests (CSMonitor).
Translation: Why is this important? Because cutting down trees (clearcuts, anyway) and cutting greenhouse gas emissions are not compatible. Trees remove carbon dioxide – a powerful and plentiful greenhouse gas – from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Trees help keep our carbon cycle in balance, and they help control climate change. Without trees, the CO2 stays in the atmosphere and continues to trap heat and warm up the earth.
No trees equals big trouble.
