New Climate Change Treaty in 2009?
Top officials at the United Nations announced last Friday that the world is on track to produce a new global climate treaty by December. After 12 days of talks in Bonn, Germany, more than 100 delegates issued a 200-page document as a starting point for upcoming negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark, this December. The goal of this treaty would be to go beyond the Kyoto Protocol, which was never even ratified by the United States.
Bonn, Germany at night
The document outlines ways to cut carbon emissions by rich countries and limiting their growth in developing nations. There are also economic incentives for developing countries to help them cope with warmer temperatures. Many environmental advocates still argue that the process is moving too slowly, but most are encouraged by the strong participation of many nations, including the United States and China - which combined produce 40% of the world’s carbon emissions. There’s still a long way to go, but it’s good to see this at the forefront of the UN’s agenda for 2009.
