45 Nations Form Anti-Global Warming Body

Big-Time Polluters United States, China And India Did Not Join Organization

(AP)  Forty-five nations answered France's call Saturday for a new environmental body to slow inevitable global warming and protect the planet, perhaps with policing powers to punish violators.

Absent were the world's heavyweight polluter, the United States, and booming nations on the same path as the U.S. — China and India.

The charge led by French President Jacques Chirac came a day after the release of an authoritative — and disturbingly grim — scientific report in Paris that said global warming is “very likely” caused by mankind and that climate change will continue for centuries even if heat-trapping gases are reduced. It was the strongest language ever used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, whose last report was issued in 2001.

The document, a collaboration of hundreds of scientists and government officials, was approved by 113 nations, including the United States.

Despite the report's dire outlook, most scientists say the worst disasters — huge sea level rises and the most catastrophic storms and droughts — may be avoided if strong action is taken soon.

In his call to action at a French-sponsored environment conference on Saturday, Chirac said, “It is our responsibility. The future of humanity demands it.”

Without naming the United States — producer of about one-quarter of the world's greenhouse gases — Chirac expressed frustration that “some large, rich countries still must be convinced.” They are “refusing to accept the consequences of their acts,” he said.

So far, it is mostly European nations that agreed to pursue plans for the new organization, and to hold their first meeting in Morocco this spring.

Chirac, 74, is seeking to leave his mark on international affairs before he leaves office, likely in May, though his own environmental record over 12 years as France's president is spotty.

Former Vice President Al Gore, whose Oscar-nominated documentary on the perils of global warming has garnered worldwide attention, cheered Chirac's efforts.

“We are at a tipping point,” Gore told the conference by videophone. “We must act, and act swiftly ... Such action requires international cooperation.”

The world's scientists and other international leaders also said now that the science is so well-documented, action is clearly the next step.

“It is time now to hear from the world's policymakers,” Tim Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation, said Friday. “The so-called and long-overstated 'debate' about global warming is now over.”

Granger Morgan, an energy expert at Carnegie Mellon University in the United States predicted the new climate report “will kick a few more folks to get on board.”

And Jason Grumet, head of U.S. bipartisan advocacy group, the National Commission on Energy Policy, said: “The debate has clearly shifted from a battle over the science to fighting over the scope and design of the solution.”

However, many questions remain about Chirac's proposed new environmental body, including whether it would have the power to enforce global climate accords.

Chirac's appeal says only that the group should “evaluate ecological damage” and “support the implementation of environmental decisions.”

Many countries have failed to meet targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions laid out in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. The United States has never ratified the pact. And on Friday, the Bush administration reiterated its rejection of imposed cuts on greenhouse gases.

Earlier this week, Chirac warned in a published interview that the United States could face a carbon tax on its exports if it does not sign global climate accords.

The European Union, which agreed to the Kyoto Protocol curbing emissions, has committed to a 20 percent reduction in carbon pollution by 2020, said Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. And if others join them, they could even try for 60 percent cuts by 2050, he said.

The United Nations also is considering a summit of world leaders to tackle global warming, and de Boer said he would expect the United States to send high-ranking officials to it.

Despite White House resistance to carbon-cutting measures with teeth, de Boer and Carnegie Mellon professor Morgan said they see movement in the United States anyway.

“We are certainly building critical mass among opinion leaders and nontechnical folks,” Morgan said from Pittsburgh, citing recent calls to action by corporate CEOs, even in the energy industry. “We are at the point over the next three to five years where the U.S. is going to get quite serious about it.”

And in May, the same international panel that wrote Friday's report will wrap up a new document spelling out the benefits and costs of slowing global warming, setting up a buffet of choices for policymakers.

For now, scientists are energized that the world is finally listening to them.

Kevin Trenberth, an American co-author of the new climate report, marveled at the overflow crowd of more than 400 reporters on hand for the document's release on Friday. It was more reporters than he'd seen in decades of climate conferences. He took out a small camera, smiled and took a picture of the media.

[erasmus6]

OlGreyGhost
Ok, I think I got it! It's the only other explanation I can think of for you living in denial. You own a factory that is spewing out toxic poisons and you don't want to have to put out millions of dollars to make the changes, am I right or am I right?

Well it's been enlightening talking to you OlGreyDog ...oops I mean Ghost maybe we can do it again sometime. You have shown me how scary some people are and that we indeed have something more to worry about than the environment. See ya

[erasmus6]

OlGreyGhost
You don't think that the factorys that are polluting our air and water isn't directly harming all of us?
And what is this *** about killing my fellow man to get my selfish way. Are you feeling ok?
I am beginning to think that you see and hear only what you want. I thought when I first started to read what you were writing that you had some intelligence, but I was wrong. I now believe that you are a whacko! You know, the elevator doesn't go to the top floor. The lights on but there is nobody home. Missing a few bricks etc. etc. I hope there isn't too many people in the world like you or we are ****ed BIG TIME!!!

[olgreyghost]

erasmus6:

Selfish is trying to run other people's lives because you have been led to believe their actions, that do not cause DIRECT harm to you, are somehow going to hurt you. That has been the grounds for many an unjustified war in the past, the wars raging today, and the wars to come in a few weeks. Selfish is trying to keep the world the way you want it instead of allowing it to evolve into what it will be, regardless of the actions of Man.

You're a pathetic thug and your answer to my earlier question would have to be a resounding "Yes!" as you are obviously prepared to kill your fellow man to get your selfish way.

And you're still wasting energy, you hypocrite...

[gwlafayette]

lol

sorry
i saw it once and got mad

keep up the good work

[erasmus6]

OlGreyGhost

It is erasmus 6 not erasmus 1 and the reason the world is in the state that it is in now IS because allowances have been made for people to live their lives the way they see fit. That's the problem. Selfish, with little thought for other human beings. Like the person who smokes for instance (and I used to be one of them),they don't care whether they are polluting other peoples space or people with cell phones who have the need to yak everywhere they go. People can't even enjoy a meal at a restaurant because people can't put the phone down long enough to eat anymore.
And taxes are the reason for spending? Give me a break. It's plastic surgery, makeup, fashion etc. etc. We have to look spectacular for heaven sakes!
I think the real reason you choose not to accept the situation is like I said, it isn't going to affect you, so let someone else take care of it.
And if you do live in North America, and can't see the problem, then you really must be living in denial.

[olgreyghost]

erasmus1:

I live in the real world where there are other real people and I make allowance for them to live their lives as they see fit as they should leave me to live mine. It's the nature of liberty, which I hold dear. Do what you want to "save the planet" as you are free to do so, but there are communitarians (socialists, communists, neoconservatives, social democrats, etc., etc., ad nauseum) who would shut down all human activity, except their own which they consider more important than anything else anyone does. And keep your eyes open to things done to save the planet that contributes to GW like your recycled toilet paper.

If a product made from recycled materials costs more than something made the old-fashioned way from raw natural resources it is because more energy was expended to produce it. More energy expended, more burning of fossil fuels, more CO2 produced, and therego by the theory proposed, we have more GW. Oops?

And the way taxes are levied is a reason why people spend more than save. And for the record, The Republic is on the North American continent, and if you ever head this way, stop by and we can sip lemonade on my porch.

GWLafayette:

"GW" has meant for most of this thread, "Global Warming." We're trying to conserve energy here by cutting back on the number of electrons expended. :)

[erasmus6]

OlGreyGhost
Did I say I conserve energy? I said we all need to start making changes. I said that I have been procrastinating and that I needed to get my butt moving.
I think you need to get a grip on reality.
You may be conserving over there but here in North America obviously most people are not. In fact over here people are in major debt because they like to spend more than save. Screw the light bill.
You will have to excuse me if I don't wish to sit back and take the wait and see approach. Of course neither you or I will be here so see if it was man-made or not now will we cause we will be dead by then. The mess will be here for our childrens children and there will be nothing they will be able to do then. The job is ours I'm afraid, we need to clean up our mess now. You may choose to live in your little La La Land but I choose to live in reality. The weather here has changed dramatically. It hasn't been gradual. I live in Canada and they are saying that if the temperature goes up 3 degrees in the rest of the world it will go up 6 degrees here. It will double because we are closer to the north pole. Like I said you live in your denial and I will live in reality.

For those who would be interested(I doubt that you would be OlGreyGhost) there is a good book to read called: FROM NAKED APE TO SUPERSPECIES by David Suzuki and Holly Dressel

[gwlafayette]

please dont refer to George Bush Jr. as GW, its insulting to the father of our country. if you truly dislike him, dont give him the honor of sharing initials with George Washington.

[olgreyghost]

www.LewRockwell.com/rozeff/rozeff136

Try it, some of you will like it...

[olgreyghost]

rheola:

Government edicts suppress human activity which is what is being blamed in this case. Governments cannot force people to do things "voluntarily" because then its not voluntary and most pro-Big Government types don't trust the people to do the right thing in the first place which is why I don't trust them because they are, after all, fallible human beings themselves.

erasmus6:

Get over yourself. We conserve energy here in The Republic because it conserves our money. Only a idiot (or benevolent government officials who happen to be the worst polluters with others people money) waste money. Quit thinking you are the only person who conserves just because you are concerned about "saving the planet." The planet doesn't need you and gets along fine without you. Try selling, not forcing, conservation on people because it saves them money. "Saving the planet" is a bit too abstract for most people but their electric bill is something they hold in their hands about once a month and they pay for gas (we hope) everytime they fill up. Trying to beat me about the head will only make your arms tired and you're still wasting energy.

[anopinion1]

OlGreyGhost

maybe that is a battle that may go somewhere unlike bush's bonehead ideas.

future headlines
the world vs china...2050 led by george bush III..
china refuses to agree on fighiting global warming.
Iran says that they can use all the nukes they made 50 years ago on them plzplz let us them.

[rheola-2009]

Anopinion1

I think you would do well to check who posted what, and get it correct.

[rheola-2009]

Olgreyghost

Good morning, or in your case good afternoon.

Really old fellow, "Suppression of human activity", isn't that a bit over the top.
Certainly some readjustment would be necessary, but suppression I would be reasonably sure, that you yourself do not believe that

[erasmus6]

We are not talking about supressing human activity, we are talking about CHANGING our activities. Like instead of using *** wipe that has been bleached with chlorine, use recycled *** wipe. What't the matter can't your hiny take it?

[olgreyghost]

Alright folks, time to get serious. How many of those who believe the suppression of human activity can stop GW are prepared to kill your fellow human beings to "save the planet?" Don't respond with, "That's a stupid question," which is only a way to avoid the question by giving a stupid answer and possibly suggests you might have a hidden agenda. Don't suggest it will never come to that because everything involving humans comes to that. It's a straight-up poll for your opinions.

"How many of those who believe the suppression of human activity can stop GW are prepared to kill your fellow human beings to 'save the planet'?"

[erasmus6]

Gaye5
You are right about planting trees, it is certainly a step in the right direction. But I'm afraid at this point that alone isn't going to solve the problem.

[shrade-2009]

if u haven't notice i ment people that got nothing at all those who drive cars will get by :D Anyways my point was there is always something to lose even the best things u do still someone loses. And in this case there is a lot to lose in both cases

[anopinion1]

"They should actually find a way to do something usefull before waistin those trillions of dollars on nothing.
Posted by shrade at 02:34 AM : Feb 04, 2007"

Good idea use that money to keep more people alive who can drive cars and work in smog producing factories.
overpopulation is the source of the problem here to some degree people.

[shrade-2009]

Actually there is a lot to lose, since we are talkin about billions of dollars. And as of this moment there is no real effective way to fix it. And there are lost of countries where they live on 1 $ for like monthes so imagine how many people u could safe from starving to death and etc...It seems harmless to take priemtive mesuares, but there is always a downside to everything like in this case that would be money and lots of em that could be used to save lifes. Though i'm not tellin that we should do nothing i'm just pointing out these for people who think we can lose nothing from this.

[anopinion1]

rheola

"After finishing christmas, why don't you return to forests to grow up big tree?

Americans kills baby trees after chrismas."

Your statments here and throughout the rest of that mess might be the funniest thing i have read in a long time.

Its not like we go out into the forest and look for a tree and cut it down. granted some do if they have property of theirs they can go on.
Their are people everywhere that basically all they do is plant grow and sell christmas trees every year.
Think mcfly