Ministers Pledge Climate Action After Greenland Summit Blahblahblahblahbla

[hatrack]

EDIT

Ministers and climate negotiators from 22 nations arrived at the tiny west Greenland village of Ilulissat at the invitation of Denmark, in conjunction with the Greenland government. Danish environment minister Connie Hedegaard said she wanted to create a forum where politicians could enjoy a genuine dialogue on climate.

During the usual UN climate negotiations, she said, the majority of agreements were reached between civil servants, and ministers arrived in time only to argue over the details of disputed text. At a news conference after the meeting, she said the gathering had helped to build on momentum gained at the G8 Summit at Gleneagles, Scotland, in July. At the summit, all leading nations agreed climate change was a serious problem that had to be tackled.

South African environment minister Marthinus Christoffel said a watershed had been crossed. Until now developing countries had believed it was not in their interest to shift their economies to prioritise emissions reduction, he said. Now his government accepted that playing a part to reduce the growth in emissions was in South Africa's own interest to shield its economy from the havoc that could be wreaked by climate change.

EDIT

The second perceived let-down was the position of the US chief climate negotiator delegate, Harlan Watson. Just weeks after President Bush put his signature to the Gleneagles declaration that climate change was a serious problem facing the world, Dr Watson told a Radio Greenland journalist that the US was still unconvinced by the consensus science on climate. He later declined to be interviewed by BBC News.

EDIT/END

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4174574.stm

[Canuckistanian]

1. I'm sure they'll get right on it

By creating a task force investigating the possibility of a further study of the problem.

[hatrack]

2. Yes, and a special review panel may also be necessary

In order to prepare the protocol of study and reviews of the existing research on the topic.

As for Harlan Watson, maybe they can make him read some scientific papers. No - better yet, have scientific papers read to him by a team of Hooters waitresses in bikinis, who'll also feed him grapes and massage his feet.

[phantom power]

3. That is also my preferred method of reading the latest papers.

Small world! It's astonishing, how hard it is to find Hooters waitresses willing to read that kind of material. Or touch my feet.

[hatrack]

4. Many also have problems with certain phrases

Like "Mohorivicic Discontinuity", "syzygy" and "Magellenic Cloud". They also seem to have a great deal of difficulty remembering my phone number. :shrug:

[Pooka Fey]

5. US chief climate negotiator says the US is still unconvinced by the data.

Lets see. The White House believes in the "rapture" , but it is "UNCONVINCED" about global warming; all the while walking around on barren rock in Greenland that used to be covered with ice.

Breathe Pooka Fey. Slooowly....deep breaths... :banghead: :-( :eyes: :-( :banghead: :eyes: :-( :banghead:

[hatrack]

7. "He later declined to be interviewed by BBC News"

That pretty much says it all, doesn't it?

[rfkrfk]

6. a good start would be, laws enacting the Kyoto treaty

the Parliments of these countries need to act.
and they need to be serious about it.