The Big Debate

Global Warming and Climate Change, is perhaps humankind's biggest threat looming just around the corner trying to ring the alarm bell or rather is ringing and we are failing to notice it. Well time and again, this has been a pot boiler in many international climate summits, the recent one being UN Climate Summit which concluded late last month in New York.

What's the debate about?

The above stated question is one which I came across many a number of times and of late I started wondering the same. Basically it goes this way, most of the economies including ours, today are concerned about one thing, "Economy and consumerism." Consumerism is one religion or cult which encompasses the entire globe without racial or religious bias. It was very interesting for me when I first came to know that an average twenty year old in a country like US is accustomed with more than 20,000 business logos and must have used the products of at least 1/10th of them and I am pretty much sure that the scenario in countries like India and China, the so called developing economies is far from better.

Consumerism gives everyone their fair share?

Well, the answer to this question would be a definite 'no'. With the onset of the Industrial Revolution in late 1800's, the big five of the world have gulped the major chunk of the planet's resources. The remaining tid bits are left for grabs among the developing and undeveloped countries. It would be ironic to know that US which accounts for less than 10% of the world's population accounts for 30% of energy consumption and Europe is not far behind. Till recently most of our political and economical stalwarts all over were of the opinion that when it comes to economy or environment, it is the economy that always deserves a head start. But things lately have started to change, the best example example being the UN Secretary General himself saying and as I quote, "The world's glaciers are now melting faster than human progress to protect them — or us." This was probably one part of the brighter side of the Summit, while the other side being the one those who acknowledged and shared his gloom.

Coming back to the big debate question, when things are put in a sharp and crisp way straight from the gut it comes down to this; The big brothers tell the younger ones, "You guys cannot exploit the natural resources the same way as we used and ruined them. Instead you have to cap your greenhouse emissions putting forward your development at risk while we reap the benefits of our misdeeds and you pay for them."

The above of is a classical example of the English saying, "One man's meat is another man's poison." which is totally unacceptable to economies like China, India, Brazil etc. which have to start to expand their horizons recently. But they like the bolt from the blue set forward postulates by agreeing to cut down their emissions and there by adding up more pressure on 'The Big Brother' to cut down his'. However, it was interesting that President Obama even after quoting John F. Kennedy, "our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man.", couldn't offer the solution or rather a firm resolution that was expected from him and his nation.

With less than 11 weeks remaining for the final round of talks at Copenhagen, Denmark a lot has been in the left in the open irresolute and to debate on. The Big Debate rages on.