Are the UN taking action against Global Warming?

[Defender2516]

UNITED NATIONS - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told an unprecedented summit on climate change Monday that "the time for doubt has passed" and a breakthrough is needed in global talks to sharply reduce emissions of global-warming gases.

 

 

 

"The U.N. climate process is the appropriate forum for negotiating global action," Ban told assembled presidents and premiers, an apparent caution against what some see as a U.S. effort to open a separate negotiating track.

 

 

 

The U.N. chief also addressed a chief U.S. objection to negotiated limits on greenhouse-gas emissions, that it will be too damaging to the American economy.

 

 

 

"Inaction now will prove the costliest action of all in the long term," Ban said.

 

 

 

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in another summit-opening speech, told the international delegates U.S. states are taking action.

 

 

 

While the Bush administration has resisted emissions caps, California's Republican governor and Democrat-led legislature have approved a law requiring the state's industries to reduce greenhouse gases by an estimated 25 percent by 2020. Other U.S. states, in various ways, are moving to follow California's lead.

 

 

 

"California is moving the United States beyond debate and doubt to action," Schwarzenegger said. "What we are doing is changing the dynamic."

 

 

 

The one-day meeting, with more than 80 national leaders among some 150 participants, also was scheduled to hear from Al Gore, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other international figures.

 

 

 

U.N. chief Ban organized the summit to build political momentum toward launching negotiations later this year for deep cutbacks in emissions of carbon dioxide and other manmade gases blamed for global warming.

 

 

 

President Bush, who has long opposed such negotiated limits on "greenhouse gases," wasn't participating in the day's meetings but was to attend a small dinner Monday evening, a gathering of key players hosted by Ban.

 

 

 

Rather than accept treaty obligations, Bush has urged industry to cut emissions voluntarily(And they will voluntarily decline the offer i'm sure!), and emphasizes research on clean-energy technology as one answer.

 

 

 

On Thursday and Friday, Bush will host his own two-day climate meeting, limited to 16 "major emitter" countries. It's the first in a series of U.S.-sponsored climate gatherings.

 

 

 

Many environmentalists fear the separate U.S. "track," which will involve China and India, may undercut the global U.N. negotiating process. But some hope it eventually helps draw those two big developing nations and others into a new, U.N.-negotiated emissions regime.

 

 

 

Speaking to a technology session at Monday's U.N. conference, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the administration views the Washington sessions "as the first in a series of meetings to support and help advance the ongoing U.N. discussion."(Okay wtf.. who cares?)

 

 

 

This first-ever U.N. climate summit looked ahead to December's annual climate treaty conference in Bali, Indonesia, when the Europeans, Japanese and others hope to initiate talks for an emissions-reduction agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol in 2012. (4 years.. wow)

 

 

 

The 1997 Kyoto pact, which the U.S. rejects, requires 36 industrial nations to reduce heat-trapping gases emitted by power plants and other industrial, agricultural and transportation sources by an average 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2012.

 

 

 

Advocates say a breakthrough is needed at Bali ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Ã

[Grim_Jokes]

They can't do anything if they don't agree. Ooops.

[Bubsa]

It seems that all they ever do is TALK about it. They never really DO anything about it.

 

I'm amazed you concluded so much from that article!

[Defender2516]

It seems that all they ever do is TALK about it. They never really DO anything about it.

 

I'm amazed you concluded so much from that article!

 

 

 

/Sarcasm?

[Nom]

It seems that all they ever do is TALK about it. They never really DO anything about it.

 

I'm amazed you concluded so much from that article!

 

 

 

/Sarcasm?

 

 

 

/Irony.

[Bubsa]

It seems that all they ever do is TALK about it. They never really DO anything about it.

 

I'm amazed you concluded so much from that article!

 

 

 

/Sarcasm?

 

 

 

Nothing gets past you, Holmes.

[Harrington]

Whilst billionaires stand to lose money, nothing other than token efforts will be made to reduce global warming.

 

 

 

What's annoying me is that our governments see this as nothing but an opportunity to makes lots of extra cash via tax revenues. Apparently, it's all my fault because I drive a car and watch a big TV. It has nothing to do with the multinational uber rich companies that prevent less profitable technologies to breakthrough.

 

 

 

Now I wouldn't mind the extra taxes if I knew for CERTAIN that all of my extra tax was going towards developing and implementing new technologies such wind and solar power, hydrogen fuel cells etc...

 

 

 

Instead, I suspect my taxes are going to various other unworthy causes.

[assassin_696]

What's that? The world's largest free-market economy won't voluntarily cut emissions? Shocking.

 

 

 

On a side note, what do you do to reduce your carbon footprint Defender?

[PaperClipsYaaaar]

What's that? The world's largest free-market economy won't voluntarily cut emissions? Shocking.

 

 

 

On a side note, what do you do to reduce your carbon footprint Defender?

 

He uses hybrid balls: half water, half manjuice.

[StrOwez]

defender has learned copy and paste :( I smell more news stories coming our way from the fountain of all knowledge man.

 

 

 

OT: I'm not sure everyone agrees on issues regarding global warming, until everyone does then we're just going to be stuck in a tug war.

[Darksavior69]

While whats being done at national levels in the US is pretty pathetic, to be fair, a lot more could be done on the consumer level too. Consumers often have even more control over what companies do than the companies themselves.

[Hi9im8Here7]

Global warming is just a scam guys. The only thing even close to powerful enough to affect the Earth's climate right now is the Sun, not oil plants.

[llamster]

Global warming is just a scam guys. The only thing even close to powerful enough to affect the Earth's climate right now is the Sun, not oil plants.

 

 

 

Idiot

[Rebdragon]

Global warming is just a scam guys. The only thing even close to powerful enough to affect the Earth's climate right now is the Sun, not oil plants.

 

Not that I don't agree with you, but try to be less close minded.

[Ambassadar]

I just want to see more nuclear power plants being built.

[Lenin64]

What seems ironic to me, and I'm not entirely informed on this by the way, but it seems (to me) that the only possible cure we have for the ozone holes is: global warming! Think about it. The reason the hole is in Antacrtica is because it's cold-CFCs can react more easily there because they go past ozone molecules slower and can latch on. Slightly off-topic, but it adds just a little something extra to conversation possibilities.

[KCHughes]

What seems ironic to me, and I'm not entirely informed on this by the way, but it seems (to me) that the only possible cure we have for the ozone holes is: global warming! Think about it. The reason the hole is in Antacrtica is because it's cold-CFCs can react more easily there because they go past ozone molecules slower and can latch on. Slightly off-topic, but it adds just a little something extra to conversation possibilities.

 

 

 

But most factories produce more ozone as pollution. Ozone is much more buoyant and lighter than chlorofluorocarbons. We should be replenishing the ozone layer faster than we're destroying it.

[Errdoth]

Global warming is just a scam guys. The only thing even close to powerful enough to affect the Earth's climate right now is the Sun, not oil plants.

 

 

 

Well, I do kinda believe that, we can't exactly be helping the environment right now, can we?

[Hi9im8Here7]

Global warming is just a scam guys. The only thing even close to powerful enough to affect the Earth's climate right now is the Sun, not oil plants.

 

 

 

Well, I do kinda believe that, we can't exactly be helping the environment right now, can we?

 

 

 

No, I suppose not. I'd much rather be on nuclear power than oil. I'm just very irritated that politicians are trying to use global warming as an excuse to tax everyone.

[HellsBells]

It's too late. Siberia is going to be Africa in 50 years. And vice-versa.

[cryztalwing]

If you want to have a one child policy in America, and live has a serf than go ahead and follow and support the Rockefeller & Rothschild Global Warming propaganda scam..

[Ginger_Warrior]

What seems ironic to me, and I'm not entirely informed on this by the way, but it seems (to me) that the only possible cure we have for the ozone holes is: global warming! Think about it. The reason the hole is in Antacrtica is because it's cold-CFCs can react more easily there because they go past ozone molecules slower and can latch on. Slightly off-topic, but it adds just a little something extra to conversation possibilities.

 

 

 

But most factories produce more ozone as pollution. Ozone is much more buoyant and lighter than chlorofluorocarbons. We should be replenishing the ozone layer faster than we're destroying it.

 

Ahh... you're right they do produce ozone, but this ozone doesn't actually get off the ground much, let alone into the atmosphere, and low level ozone is a very bad thing indeed.

 

 

 

To tackle climate change, you have to change attitudes not only in America, which I feel has been slightly made a scapegoat in all of this, but the entire developed world. You gotta stop the idiots who drive all of those long four miles to work on their own in car when public tranport, or even cycling, suffices their needs perfectly. Or the ones that drive two minutes up the road to the supermarket 'coz they can't be bothered carrying their bags home. It's only by making people (and it has to be said, it's the majority of people) think about the consequences of their actions things will ever be solved.

 

 

 

Thus, anything the UN can do would be for the most part useless, unless that message is backed up by local authorites.

[Defender2516]

What seems ironic to me, and I'm not entirely informed on this by the way, but it seems (to me) that the only possible cure we have for the ozone holes is: global warming! Think about it. The reason the hole is in Antacrtica is because it's cold-CFCs can react more easily there because they go past ozone molecules slower and can latch on. Slightly off-topic, but it adds just a little something extra to conversation possibilities.

 

 

 

But most factories produce more ozone as pollution. Ozone is much more buoyant and lighter than chlorofluorocarbons. We should be replenishing the ozone layer faster than we're destroying it.

 

Ahh... you're right they do produce ozone, but this ozone doesn't actually get off the ground much, let alone into the atmosphere, and low level ozone is a very bad thing indeed.

 

 

 

To tackle climate change, you have to change attitudes not only in America, which I feel has been slightly made a scapegoat in all of this, but the entire developed world. You gotta stop the idiots who drive all of those long four miles to work on their own in car when public tranport, or even cycling, suffices their needs perfectly. Or the ones that drive two minutes up the road to the supermarket 'coz they can't be bothered carrying their bags home. It's only by making people (and it has to be said, it's the majority of people) think about the consequences of their actions things will ever be solved.

 

 

 

Thus, anything the UN can do would be for the most part useless, unless that message is backed up by local authorites.

 

 

 

So everyone who uses a car they bought and paid for are idiots for using it to drive themselfs, even if it is short distances?

[Ginger_Warrior]

What seems ironic to me, and I'm not entirely informed on this by the way, but it seems (to me) that the only possible cure we have for the ozone holes is: global warming! Think about it. The reason the hole is in Antacrtica is because it's cold-CFCs can react more easily there because they go past ozone molecules slower and can latch on. Slightly off-topic, but it adds just a little something extra to conversation possibilities.

 

 

 

But most factories produce more ozone as pollution. Ozone is much more buoyant and lighter than chlorofluorocarbons. We should be replenishing the ozone layer faster than we're destroying it.

 

Ahh... you're right they do produce ozone, but this ozone doesn't actually get off the ground much, let alone into the atmosphere, and low level ozone is a very bad thing indeed.

 

 

 

To tackle climate change, you have to change attitudes not only in America, which I feel has been slightly made a scapegoat in all of this, but the entire developed world. You gotta stop the idiots who drive all of those long four miles to work on their own in car when public tranport, or even cycling, suffices their needs perfectly. Or the ones that drive two minutes up the road to the supermarket 'coz they can't be bothered carrying their bags home. It's only by making people (and it has to be said, it's the majority of people) think about the consequences of their actions things will ever be solved.

 

 

 

Thus, anything the UN can do would be for the most part useless, unless that message is backed up by local authorites.

 

 

 

So everyone who uses a car they bought and paid for are idiots for using it to drive themselfs, even if it is short distances?

 

Those that accept global warming and climate change is due to human activity, and then go and do such things whilst still saying, "Oh, something should be done about it", are, frankly, being hypocrites. The fact they paid for that car is regardless and irrelevant - there is still no actual need to use that car and contribute to the problem.

 

 

 

That is the attitude I'm talking about. When I said 'idiots', I'm referring to people who use excuses like "It's four miles away and I have to walk for public transport" as a justification. Because it's not a justification at all. Maybe if their work was ten or fifteen miles away, I'd understand, but if it's such a short distance I really see no need.

[Defender2516]

What seems ironic to me, and I'm not entirely informed on this by the way, but it seems (to me) that the only possible cure we have for the ozone holes is: global warming! Think about it. The reason the hole is in Antacrtica is because it's cold-CFCs can react more easily there because they go past ozone molecules slower and can latch on. Slightly off-topic, but it adds just a little something extra to conversation possibilities.

 

 

 

But most factories produce more ozone as pollution. Ozone is much more buoyant and lighter than chlorofluorocarbons. We should be replenishing the ozone layer faster than we're destroying it.

 

Ahh... you're right they do produce ozone, but this ozone doesn't actually get off the ground much, let alone into the atmosphere, and low level ozone is a very bad thing indeed.

 

 

 

To tackle climate change, you have to change attitudes not only in America, which I feel has been slightly made a scapegoat in all of this, but the entire developed world. You gotta stop the idiots who drive all of those long four miles to work on their own in car when public tranport, or even cycling, suffices their needs perfectly. Or the ones that drive two minutes up the road to the supermarket 'coz they can't be bothered carrying their bags home. It's only by making people (and it has to be said, it's the majority of people) think about the consequences of their actions things will ever be solved.

 

 

 

Thus, anything the UN can do would be for the most part useless, unless that message is backed up by local authorites.

 

 

 

So everyone who uses a car they bought and paid for are idiots for using it to drive themselfs, even if it is short distances?

 

Those that accept global warming and climate change is due to human activity, and then go and do such things whilst still saying, "Oh, something should be done about it", are, frankly, being hypocrites. The fact they paid for that car is regardless and irrelevant - there is still no actual need to use that car and contribute to the problem.

 

 

 

That is the attitude I'm talking about. When I said 'idiots', I'm referring to people who use excuses like "It's four miles away and I have to walk for public transport" as a justification. Because it's not a justification at all. Maybe if their work was ten or fifteen miles away, I'd understand, but if it's such a short distance I really see no need.

 

 

 

No I really don't see your point. My Job is 5 miles away, but I calculated it, and If I was to walk there and back on foot, it would take me 2 hours there and 2 hours back, which could be turned down to a simple 15 minute drive there and a 15 minute drive back.

 

 

 

4 Miles is a LONG way on foot. Public transportation is not free either, and cycling takes less time than walking but still consumes alot of time.

 

 

 

Even with cars, people barely have time these days, atleast I know I don't have alot of time, and i'm sorry for being a hypocrite, but 4 hours is one hell of alot of time to waste, especially when no one else is going to jump in the fray and walk with me, having 0.00000000000001 effect on global warming.

 

 

 

However, i'm not 100% hypocrite. I get dropped off at my job which could be considered car pooling :P