Bali Global Warming Talks - the new Kyoto
Next month, world leaders will start trying to agree to post-Kyoto standards. Good thing they are starting soon: the Kyoto protocol expires in 2012 and the UN report (that is the touchstone of the conference) suggests that the world will go to hell in a handbasket by 2050! So, for now, some well meaning but useless politicians will expend plenty of hot air, and kick of tons of carbon on airplane flights from around the world in order to attempt to reach a consensus that no one even believes is possible.
This CNN article lays out the grim truth of what's to come. "The battle will likely be pitched and the stakes high as each side of the global warming debate says the other's plan will cost the global economy trillions of dollars. And public attention in the U.S. - which never signed the first Kyoto agreement - has arguably never been greater."
I don't mean to seem overly pessimistic. I'm actually a long-term optimist when it comes to the ability of humans to positively impact the world - in time to save humanity. I truly believe in the power of transformational technological and scientific advances in combination with conscientious carbon reduction efforts by multi-national corporations. In order to fix the Global Warming crisis individuals and companies can not wait around for politicians. It is in our enlightened self-interest to get this right, and get it going. Want to start reducing your company's emissions? L2ideas can help.
