Monday, December 14, 2009

Climate Conference at Copenhagen- 2009



In 2012 the Kyoto Protocol to prevent climate changes and global warming runs out. To keep the process on the line there is an urgent need for a new climate protocol & between 6th - 18th December 2009, leaders from 170 countries would meet together in this Danish city for the last time before The Copenhagen Protocol would be formulated. The main theme of the meet is the amount by which each country would cut down on its carbon emission in a stipulated time & debates have been happening with regards to how high the bars should be for developed nations & or developing nations vis-a-vis, the technology & investment required. 
The US's stance has been clear to date that they are unwilling to join the Kyoto Protocol or Kyoto-like-protocol which will submit them to any legal bindings with regards to emission cuts. The sticky issues to date has been:
  • Technology transfer wherein the developed countries would have to ensure that all other countries would get access to technology that would lead to carbon free development & would have to invest a considerable amount in R&D in this regard
  • Patent issue of such technologies is a related issue
  • America's stand to not be legally bound by emission norms has proven a major challenge
  • The need to reduce the global temperature by 2% by 2020.
  • The need to progressively reduce the carbon foot prints without compromising on development
  • The need for legal clauses to be introduced to ensure commitment of countries in pursuing anti- emission norms & goals.
  • Australia, Japan & other developing nations are mooting for uniformity in rules for all developed nations
What is dreaded is countries pursuing their personal goals too zealously pushing aside the need for sustainable development. If the leaders of the Nations fail to come forth with an agreement, little developments can be seen in bringing climate control measures when not just the Copenhagen, but all such conferences could be but cul-de-sacs. 



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