There is no Plan B to the Copenhagen Climate Meeting – Because we do not have a Planet B
However, there is still hope for a good result in Copenhagen December 2009, at least Zhu Qiwen of China Daily is hopeful in his article: “Let Copenhagen’s story of hope continue” an article he wrote after participating in a Global Editor’s Forum “From Kyoto to Copenhagen”.
Some 200 reporters from more than 100 countries had gathered to share information about the dangers of the climate changes caused by pollution of the carbon dioxide emissions.
In general it was obvious that there was a global understanding that something has to be done now!
The greatest fear of the participating country representatives was that the USA would not contribute sufficiently, just as the USA don’t accept and join the Kyoto agreement even though the 1997 Kyoto protocol will not be replaced by a Copenhagen agreement before year 2012.
The USA is even today mainly focused on economy and the financial crisis, as Zhu Qiwen writes: “A key reason why the US has so far shirked its obligations in combating climate change is domestic worry about the cost that may be imposed on its economy”
Let us hope that the United States wake up and realize that the costs of a climate disaster will be even higher if the needed solutions are postponed.
European Mobility Week
Cities in Europe can participate in the European Mobility Week 2009. In order to improve the city climates any city or town can register at www.mobilityweek.eu to this year’s theme 2009 Improving City Climates.
In the previous years there have been themes, such as: Clean Air for All, Streets for People, and Climate Change. – It all began 2002 with the European Mobility Week. – Each year a local city authority is awarded a prestigious prize. In 2008 Budapest, Hungary was the winner, with Zagreb and Almada as the runner ups.
At the official website for the 2009 Mobility Week there are now 926 participating cities (on AUG 26) at www.mobilityweek.eu – A very surprising fact is that none of the Danish cities have yet announced their participation, not even Copenhagen, the host for the Climate Conference (COP15) later this year. This fact is not a promising sign for the Copenhagen Protocol which eventually will replace the Kyoto Protocol. Report here at our blog, whether your city participate.
Comment (1)The ice around the Antarctic is melting down
I am concerned about the changes of the oceans; and in particular how the ice around the Antarctic is melting down. The population of penguins has already declined over the last two decades, but there is a high risk that it will get even worse if the ocean currents change and the water of the oceans get warmer; these changes will dramatically influence the food availability. In worst case we will have no penguins a hundred years from now. This fact can result in a tragi-comic joke: 100 years might seem a long time, but even so it is too short a time for the penguins to make the evolutionary change into tropical birds.
Comment (1)