14 DAY TRIAL // Analysts say that the world could see an international agreement on two of the planet's most pressing issues as early as this December, if representatives of countries meeting in Cancun, Mexico, agree to compromise, and at least try to work together.
Between November 29 and December 10, representatives from nearly 200 countries will meet at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the sixth Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP).
This meeting comes with a rick background of political lallygagging, arguments and delays, as demonstrated by COP14 in Poznań, Poland, and COP 15 in Copenhagen, Denmark. But experts are still convinced that some progress can be made, especially if nations learn to compromise.
Thus far, political and economical agendas have dominated the meetings, with a huger divide developing between developed and developing countries. The former do not want to pledge any money for saving the environment, whereas the latter rightfully argue that they cannot protect nature and biodiversity without any funds.
Even if nations as Japan have taken steps to break the deadlock, by pledging billions of dollars to the cause, its example was unfortunately not followed. COP16 ended last year with a non-legally-binding document that was only agreed upon by 140 countries.
For analysts at United Nations University's Our World, a new era of low-carbon economic growth is the only way to go forth. But politicians are apparently not as convinced.
Their uncertainty is augmented by pressure from private interest groups and their lobbyists, which receive billions of dollars to delay measures that are in the public interest to pass.
Managing climate change and overcoming world poverty are the two main issues facing our world today. These problems cannot be managed separately, and any integrated approach to handling them requires financial efforts on the part of developed countries.
Another way to push forward is if all those involved in the decision-making process become aware of their role and responsibility to the people who elected them, and to future generations. Unfortunately, most of them think only about immediate material gains.
Coming to a decision is not a matter of conducting research or whatnot. All the issues that needed analysis have long since been debated over and over, and are already agreed upon. All that is needed now is the will to push on.