Top 20 Global Polluting Countries Meet In Mexico City To Talk, Talk, Talk

[hatrack]

Energy and environment ministers from the world's top 20 polluting nations are meeting in Mexico to consider the economic impact of climate change. Former World Bank chief economist Sir Nicholas Stern will outline the initial findings of his review into the issue. Sir Nicholas is expected to say rich nations must cut emissions immediately, and help developing nations adapt.

The two-day gathering hopes to reach agreement on ways to meet future energy demands while cutting emissions. The meeting in Monterrey is the latest round of talks on the G8 Gleneagles Summit's climate action plan. As well as ministers from G8 nations, representatives from China, India, Brazil, and South Africa are also attending the event, which is being hosted by the Mexican government.

EDIT

Emerging economies, led by China, argued that if the world's richest nation was not part of the Kyoto targets, it was unfair to expect developing nations to be subject to legally binding limits.

Campaigners hope the Sir Nicholas' findings will help deliver a consensus among the big polluters. "We are urging the G8 not to miss another opportunity to take action in favour of the poorest people of the world, who are already struggling to cope with the effects of climate change," said Rachel Roach, a climate change policy adviser for the aid charity Tearfund. But she added: "Unfortunately, it may well be that this week's meeting is another case of lots of talk but little action."

EDIT

Ed. - Yeah, no shit, Rachel.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5398784.stm

[Eugene]

1. Get ready for freak weather, world's polluters told (Reuters)

Get ready for freak weather, world's polluters told

By Catherine Bremer | October 4, 2006

MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - The world's top polluting nations were told
on Wednesday to prepare for decades of weather turmoil, even if they act
now to curb emissions and pursue green energy sources.

Environment and energy ministers meeting in the Mexican city of Monterrey
vowed to work faster to control global warming as scientists told them each
year wasted in curbing greenhouse gas emissions would cost them dearly.

-snip-

British Environment Secretary David Miliband said scientists told the meeting
that if no action is taken, carbon dioxide emissions will more than double
by 2050.

-snip-

Yet even if countries froze emission levels tomorrow, the world still faces
30 years of floods, heatwaves, hurricanes and coastal erosion, the British
government's chief scientific advisor David King, said.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2006/10/05/get_ready_for_freak_weather_worlds_polluters_told