Making history

As the earth races around the sun towards the December tryst, the speed is also picking up in debates around climate change. There is speculation rife on what will happen. Will the US succumb? Will China yield or refuse a cap on emissions? Will Cop 15 fail to produce the much-needed balm for a hotting planet?

Developing countries like China and India are not willing to limit emissions and compromise on the economy, which could lead to socio-political instability.

But can nations afford such notions of sovereignty and national interest when faced with grim implications of climate change? A paradox that the recession is drawing the world inwards while climate change forcing a world view!

Again, is apportioning past blame helpful in finding solutions? But is it really wrong to expect the guilty party to pay up?

Or, do we accept that we have become our brothers’ keepers, and that we will not find a common solution without some flexibility? Like saying, ok we will accept a cap but only if compensated in some way, either funds or technology transfer.

The way nations will negotiate, this is going to be the ‘most complex diplomatic negotiations in the history of the world’ in the words of U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, co-author of the US climate bill.

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