Emissions Efforts Going Into Reverse As Nairobi Climate Talking-Shop Convenes

[hatrack]

LONDON - International attempts to cut the pollution that causes global warming have gone into reverse just as evidence mounts that it is putting the planet in grave danger, a startling official report will reveal. The findings by the United Nations - which will be presented to the world's governments this week at the start of crucial negotiations about whether to tackle climate change seriously - shows that after reducing emissions during the 1990s, the world's richest countries have increased them since the start of the millennium.

The alarming revelation starkly contrasts with the conclusion of last week's Stern report that "strong and urgent collective action" is needed if worldwide disaster is to be avoided. The 600-page report by Sir Nicholas Stern, head of the Government Economic Service and a former chief economist of the World Bank, predicted that without substantial and rapid cuts in pollution, global warming will "take humans into unknown territory" and "transform the physical geography of the world".

Yet another report, this one by the Institute for Public Policy Research, the Government's favourite think-tank, concludes that Sir Nicholas has not gone nearly far enough and that an even greater "Herculean" effort will be needed if we are "to have a high chance of avoiding dangerous climate change".

All three reports will greatly increase the pressure on the international negotiations that open in Nairobi today, a year late, over what will replace the present targets for cutting pollution. These were set under the Kyoto Protocol, which will expire in 2012.

EDIT

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10409323

[Dead_Parrot]

1. Why am I not suprised... sigh. nt