<< September 24, 2007 >>

"Tipping Point" for climate change

(left) In UN Press Conference Room #1 / (right) at Achim Steiner Press Briefing

I just attended a briefing with Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UN Environmental Program. Mr. Steiner was impressive as he negotiated thorny questions about the US's perceived indifference to this UN session. (In fact, President Bush has scheduled what some call a competitive if not subversive meeting: Meeting of Major Economies on Energy Security and Climate Change)

But one of comments that struck me was Mr. Steiner's claim that "climate change has reached a tipping point; it is no longer the sole preoccupation of scientists." Mr. Steiner argued that Climate Change is now seen as a major challenge by everyone - and that this meeting with more than 160+ countries participating was a symbol of that evolution.

Indeed, the energy here is extremely positive, with literally dozens of heads of state – from Sarkozy to President Wade of Senegal – standing up and encouraging the world to tackle the problem. But in the end one gets the sense that they are all here to encourage a few distinct countries - China, the US and India – to wholeheartedly commit to this process.

Posted by dmd on September 24, 2007 06:21 PM