U.N.-backed climate change meeting of scientists and diplomats in Bangkok has just concluded. With this conference, the UN seems to spearhead the need to apply cost-effective technology to arrest global warming. This is a major move in light of the fact that the US refused to ratify the Kyoto protocol, citing a damaged economy as an excuse and here lies the problem. How much will it cost to reduce green house emissions? Who will have to shoulder the major burden?

The draft report assesses the likely costs to the global economy of stabilizing greenhouse gases at various concentrations in the atmosphere. The current atmospheric concentration is about 425ppm, (parts per million) and many climate scientists now argue that only agreeing to keep below about 450ppm can prevent major climatic consequences. The IPCC draft says keeping concentrations at this level could cost up to 3% of GDP. This might seem a lot, especially to the developing countries, but then again consider it against the cost of the backlash of global warming.

What stance will developing countries like China, India and Brazil take?

China’s submission to the IPCC states that:

Developed countries should formally recognize they were responsible for 95 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from the pre-industrial era to 1950, and for 77 percent from 1950 to 2000.

Developing countries put the historic responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions on the developed world. They are likely to be the worst effected victims of environmental abuse where warming global temperatures are expected to cause widespread flooding, droughts and rising sea levels. However, does this mean they are going to blindly follow economic growth that further deteriorates the environment?

Wide variety of technology is already available to fight climate change at costs bearable by much of the developing world. Developing nations have the advantage that they are not that technologically advanced and hence can adopt ‘green technology’ more easily than developed/highly industrialized nations. Would they rather not go for this kind of sustainable development?

Technological advances need to be made more accessible and people should be made more pliable towards them. Energy efficiency can be achieved with nuclear, solar and wind power, more energy-efficient buildings and lighting, as well as capturing and storing carbon dioxide spewed from coal-fired power stations and oil and gas rigs. Then again, the debate continues as to how much importance should be given to nuclear energy.

The already wilting green lobby

The green lobby is a varied group, but the lion’s share of them insists concern that global warming should not lead to increased reliance on nuclear energy. Biofuels pose their own problem where the rapidly increasing interest in biofuel production is already driving corn prices beyond the budgets of the world’s poor and leading to more deforestation. Scientists are trying to develop technology to capture the carbon emissions before they are released into the atmosphere, and store them underground or under the ocean. Nevertheless, critics argue the technology is as yet unproven - the storage vaults could leak and that money spent on developing such measures, which would prolong the world’s reliance on fossil fuels, would be better spent making solar and wind power viable.

Now, we’re too close to reap the devastating effects of anthropogenic interference with the climate system. The Kyoto Protocol sighed on 16 February 2005 was the first unified effort by industrialized countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions. However, the targets set in the Kyoto Protocol were merely scratching the surface of the problem of global warming.

While this report hopes to provide a blueprint for how governments should function in an energy conscious world, the need of the hour for most countries is to inspire others by making a fine example of fulfilling set targets. Climate change and the environment are today’s ‘green’ buzzwords, however is it more hype and less work by all? It has to be in reverse order! You can start by planting a tree today; massive forestation is the need of the hour.