The Politics of Global Warming

The Politics of Global Warming http://www.livingstories.googlelabs.com/lsps/climatechange <div style="padding: 8px; float: right; width: 190px;"> <img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/11/10/business/11copenhagen_promos/articleInline.jpg" style="padding: 5px;" width="190"> Can World Leaders Reach a Climate Change Pact? </div> Summary: The international climate conference in Copenhagen ended with a watered-down agreement that some observers believe will be ineffective in slowing global warming. During the meeting, the U.S. agreed to contribute funds to help poorer countries deal with climate change. The European Union pledged $3 billion in such aid starting next year. Prior to the conference, a report found that an overall global warming trend is continuing and another study suggested that the steps needed to slow, or reverse, it will cost trillions of dollars.Separately, three lawmakers in this country have unveiled new climate change legislation in an effort to break a Congressional roadblock.  U.S. lawmakers are considering strategies like so-called "cap-and-trade" proposals under which companies could sell or buy pollution permits. The Obama Administration is also hoping to use legislation to stimulate the production of alternative energy and the creation of "green" industries. The Copenhagen meeting follows an earlier international summit held in Kyoto, Japan, that produced an agreement in 1997 that did little to slow global warming. Negotiators have signaled that an agreement at December's meeting is unlikely absent broad consensus among nations on how to share the costs of switching to lower-carbon technologies and fuels.