International failure to reach agreement on greenhouse gas reduction

International Failure on Agreement to Cut in Greenhouse Gases

There is presently much controversy regarding environmental protection and the efforts that each country is willing to make in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Although one might consider that it is not actually difficult for the international public to reach an agreement regarding emission reductions, conditions are critical. One of the reasons for which some countries hesitate to get actively involved in saving the environment is the fact the costs related to doing so are great. World powers such as China and India are perfectly aware that they can benefit from a healthy global environment resulted from an international effort to reduce emissions without actually getting engaged in the process. This acts as a demotivator for countries that are willing to cut greenhouse gas emissions in order to protect the environment.

Harmony is surely not the best word to describe the UN Climate Summit held on Dec 18, 2009, in Copenhagen. A meeting that was expected to generate a series of positive changes regarding environmental protection demonstrated that society is yet to experience progress in the sphere of affairs. Instead of reaching the projected results, the Summit made it clear that some of the most powerful nations on the planet are reluctant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly.

Being likely to become world leaders when considering their economy, the Chinese would be seriously affected as a result of participating in reducing emissions. China's emerging industrial economy is supported by fossil fuels, thus meaning that its current evolution would be slowed down because of its involvement in saving the environment. The struggle for power and wealth eventually appears to be perceived as being more important than the struggle to stop Global Warming. By using the last two centuries as an excuse to motivate the motive for which their countries are unwilling to make any compromise, the Chinese representative practically expresses his point-of-view regarding the situation. It is difficult to determine whether or not he is right, as one might come across an ethical dilemma in trying to do so. The Chinese and other developing nations are uncertain whether it is more important for them to experience economic progress or whether it is more important for the international public to perform great efforts with the purpose of saving the environment. It all comes down to personal gain in the end, as the Chinese appear to be unsupportive regarding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.