Environment and Conflicts

Today there are twelve days until a big UN climate conference in Copenhagen Kicks off. There have been many stories going on in the connection with this even - a big one being whether Mr. Obama will or will not make an appearance. In the development of this conference there were high hopes that some results for a new way forward on the environment. The hope was to develop a new agreement which would supplant the Kyoto agreement.

Obama's considerations with regards to being present at the conference would be connected with the fact that it has been difficult to achieve support from the Senate for the bill. When the bill was on the floor of Congress it passed with a meeker majority of 219 to 212. The hope would have been that the US would have established a domestic target. Effectively, other countries led by the European Union are trying to engage the US and China in establishing targets of lower emission.

There are real dangers that the Copenhagen conference fails to show any results. Without commitment by either the US or China, other countries have suggested that there is no need for them to rush to develop any target. In this context however it is worth to note that amid the faltering hope of the conference, Russia and relatively insignificant South Korea have pledged to lower their emissions.

It has since been indicated that Mr. Obama will be making an apperance at the conference! It may be all in vain as it is on his route to Norway to pick up his Nobel Prize. He will therefore be in Copenhagen on December 9th. This however is little as the conference is in the period December 7-18.

On another note of climate it is apparent that there is an emergent need for developed countries to deal with climate change in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa. There are in effect reports indicating that with the heating world there is an increased likelihood of conflict development. Through a study it has been suggested that there is a correlation between increased temperature and increased conflict in Africa. All the same, there needs to be consideration given to that which is attached to the conflicts between people of lesser means. Increased tempratures have a significant impact on the crops which are grown. Addressing the issue of food-supply is therefore of importance.

The world is an interesting place with many different issues and challenges. Living in the north/west there are many of these that we do not encounter, yet our actions have an impact on the issues faced by those of lesser means. We all have to give consideration to the environment we live, and the fact that there are those who face more immediate challenges on a daily basis.

- Additional info as this story has developed: China has indicated that the Prime Minister will be at the conference. Further China has joined the US in indicating hard targets, but how tangible is it if the US statement does not have the domestic political support it needs.