Climate Change Thread For 12/14/09: Small Countries' Big Stand Put The Hold Event In Peril

The real issue is whether the big nations of this world will stand in line and truly lead in this matter. And it seems, from the little guy's perspective, that is not the case:

The confrontation in Copenhagen began when the Africa group called a press conference in the Bella centre. Seven countries, led by Algeria and including South Africa and Nigeria, said that rich countries were trying to collapse the Kyoto protocol.

This followed moves by Japan, Australia and other rich countries at the weekend who argued that a new single treaty had to be presented to heads of state to be signed.

Developing countries fear that rich nations will ensure that a new treaty will not place strict and legally binding commitments on the developed countries to cut their emissions, unlike the Kyoto protocol.

Victor Fodeke, head of the Nigerian special climate change unit, said any attempt to remove the Kyoto track would be disastrous for the talks. "Africa is on death row. It has been sidelined by some countries. If there is any attempt to remove one of the tracks of negotiations, then it's obvious the train will crash."

"This is of paramount importance. We cannot, we can never accept the killing of the Kyoto protocol. It will mean the killing of Africa," said another spokesman for the group.

And this statement, probably the dumbest one most uttered outside of the United States today, sure wasn't helpful

The crisis was then exacerbated after Australia said that rich countries should suspend talks about emission cuts.

The matter is over the big countries not preaching their contract to the Kyoto protocol, which obviously should be the whole point of this most crucial talks.

It's only been one week before a major dilemma has arisen here. The African countries, supported by the developing ones, have took the stand they had to make here. What is the point of having these talks if the powers that be aren't going to be the serious protagonists on this most important issue.

Oh, and just to let you know, the United States is still not a member of the Kyoto protocol. We have small countries like this looking towards us for leadership, yet we still aren't part of a major UN protocol. Corporations still having their ways to pollute.

With this story, it seems like we are nowhere near to providing an auxiliary solution.