When the world’s nations have gathered in the past to debate and decide a course of action on climate change, the meetings have inevitably ended in a last-minute flurry of activity and haggling to try and reach a deal of some sort. The round of meetings in Lima have followed their well-trodden and disappointing path, with little concrete stuff to show other than token cuts in emissions or well-intentioned communiques pledging to meet again to decide on a course of action.
The reality is that climate talks inevitably pit have-not nations, which are more at risk from the global effects of climate change, against the economic powers that have most to lose from cutting emissions and curbing economic output. This leaves one to wonder if it is indeed possible to find common ground at any stage or at any forum where all nations gather to address the issue seriously.
In the past two months, China and the United States have agreed on a bilateral plan to cut emissions over the next ten years. Such a deal between the No 1 and No 2 economies makes sense — if only for the reason that they are the parties with the power and ability to alter the climate change agenda.
While the Lima meeting will likely agree on a pact from 2020 that will limit greenhouse gas emission globally, real change needs to be effected by the large producers.
