As leaders gather for the U.N. climate summit in Brazil this week – three decades after the world’s first annual climate conference – the data charting progress in the fight against global warming tells a sobering story.
Despite years of negotiations, pledges, and summits, greenhouse gas emissions have climbed by a third since that first meeting; fossil fuel consumption continues to rise; and global temperatures are on track to breach thresholds scientists say will unleash catastrophic damage to the planet.
“Yes, some good has come out of these conventions, but not enough to ensure the promise of life on Earth,” said Juan Carlos Monterrey, Panama’s special representative for climate change, who is leading a push to streamline major environmental agreements.
LOOKING BEYOND THE DATA
That grim assessment raises a fundamental question ahead of the Nov. 10-21 summit in Belem, Brazil: Is global climate diplomacy failing?
Continue Reading on Cyprus Mail
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.