Glimmers of Hope on Global Warming

Brian Murray

The United Nations have been addressing the issue of Global Warming over an extended period of time. Thus far, little development to help improve this situation has caused the UN to craft a new treaty to monitor global warming. Yvo de Boer, head of the UN agency that monitors the Kyoto protocol, points out that only a few weeks of negotiation remains before the deadline is exceeded. During this meeting, Todd Stern, the negotiator for America, plans on reducing greenhouse gas emission levels to those we saw in 1990. Ideally, this emissions level would be reached by 2020. However, underdeveloped countries wish to see emission levels 45% below that of 1990. Thus far, everyone agrees that these greenhouse gas emissions need to be lower, but have been unable to agree on specific numbers and levels of reduction. Mr. De Boer suggests that rich countries would hand out cash and technological advancements to help the developing countries. It was also brought up that an iceberg the size of Jamaica had recently broken off the Antarctic Peninsula. Overall, negotiations are moving slower than expected, while new problems occur at furious pace.

http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13447263