Climate Change Copenhagen Conference

In the run up to the United Nations conference next month – Climate Change Copenhagen – Is Anyone Listening? – a comment fromm Alvin Hopper on the Times – (Quick get there before Mr Murdoch makes it inpenetrable by humans or search engines – smart move  or misguided desperation?) article Copenhagen Fail – observed the following which is a timely dose of good old fashioned common sense.

copenhage climate change congress

It may well be that global warming, if it continues, will adversely affect humanity. Even so, rather than just concentrating on reduction of carbon emissions, we should take a far broader view of the global situation.

Consider these facts:

  • Petroleum reserves are rapidly being depleted.
  • Much of the world’s arable land is being lost or marginalised.
  • Water supplies are getting scarcer.
  • Vast areas of forest (especially rainforest) are being destroyed.
  • The oceans are polluted and overfished.
  • On top of all this, the world’s population continues to climb.

In short, not only are the earth’s finite resources rapidly being used up, but our demands on them are escalating. Surely humanity needs to implement fundamental changes if we are to avoid global catastrophe?

Copenhagen Climate Change Talks – A Distraction?

Viewed in that light, I think it is a mistake to concentrate so much effort and attention on carbon emissions. In fact, “Copenhagen” and discussions about the reducing emmisions to lessen the effects of climate change may just a distraction from other dire, and unprecedented, problems that we face. It is mistake to think that a reduction in carbon emission (the effect of which is quite uncertain) would necessarily do very much to reduce these problems.

Anyone up for a merry old sing along with Danny Kaye – Wonderful!