Climate Change Convention Kicks off in Bali

The eyes of the world are on Bali The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change opened today with 190 nations and 10,000 delegates in attendance.

The principal aim of the two week conference is to hammer out a post-Kyoto-Protocol agreement among nations for curbing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions after 2012 when the Kyoto Protocol expires.

At the opening of the conference, Australia stole the show by announcing their intention to sign onto Kyoto Protocol, leaving the United States isolated as the only developed nation to refuse becoming a signatory nation. With the landslide election of the new Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, global warming is set to become a more urgent priority in Australian politics.

United States negotiators say they come to the conference with “openness and flexibility” for working out an agreement beyond 2012, though President Bush has thus far been clear in his opposition for any sort of mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions for fear of adverse “economic impacts” (notwithstanding the economic impacts of a devasted global environment).

Most scientists agree that in order to mitigate the worst potential consequences of climate change global carbon emissions will need to be reduced by at least 50%, and more likely 80%, by 2050.

Jyle and I will keep all Huggers posted as the conference progresses over the next two weeks.

Sources and Further Reading:
Environmental News Network
ABC News
CTV