Emissions compromise least bad choice at present
- Source: Global Times
- [22:53 December 15 2009]
- Comments
However, nobody's interests would be met if the Copenhagen climate summit does not approve a compromising amount of emission reduction.
Some argue that, to make our efforts more efficient, the summit would be better to discuss specific actions of curbing global warming rather than bargaining about an arbitrary figure.
But the fact is, a realist view of international politics determines that compromises and commitments are the preconditions of any global collective actions.
Compromising commitments can be made, and then international confidence will be set.
This will provide countries and regions with opportunities and the driving force to put forward benefi cial steps, including adopting more positive climate policies and rich countries providing economic and technological aid to poor ones.
Any final protocol reached at the Copenhagen climate summit might be unenforceable.
But taking the inevitable political games into account, striving for a consensus on emissions reductions goal is the best option available.
The author is a reporter with the Global Times. wangyuan@globaltimes.com.cn
