Carbon copies and carbon footprints

How ironic that the leaders of the G8 richest nations, together with the eight "rising economic powers" should meet in Japan to discuss, among other things, climate change. The carbon footprint that would have been left by them, and the world's media gathered to cover the event, would have contributed significantly to climate change, to its detriment. How ironic also that the meeting was virtually a carbon copy of the G8 summits of previous years - much talk and no action.

It is over a decade since the Kyoto Protocol and still no positive action has been taken to resolve the issue. Developed nations claim emerging economies must equally contribute to the reduction in the production of greenhouse gases, while developing countries say the principle contributors to pollution and the richest, that is, the West, must do more. It is such disparities of opinion that have hindered any effective measures being introduced. Yet even if an amicable and definite resolution was found, anything agreed upon at the G8 +8 would be meaningless as no participant is bound to any agreement as resolutions are not binding upon members.

What is most apparent over the years is that each time the G8 meet, the targets for reduction of emissions reduce and the completion time extends. A decade ago, the years 2008-2012 were being bandied about, even by the US; now it is 2050 with a higher emission rate allowed. It is obvious that the leaders are looking to pass the problem down to successive governments, by which time the problem will likely be insoluble as it will be too late.

Perhaps one of the reasons there is no consensus of opinion at such meetings among politicians is that there is no agreement among scientists. As with all statistics, you can interpret the findings any way you want.