The promise of Copenhagen

This week, we look at comment on the global climate change summit in Copenhagen and on the effects of “Climategate”.

Failure is not an option

The theft of e-mails from the University of East Anglia and the resulting “Climategate” should not distract attention from the threat of climate change, writes the Financial Times.

As the biggest environmental meeting in history opens in Copenhagen, the scientific case for a global agreement to fight man-made climate change remains overwhelming. The furore over alleged data manipulation ... has stirred upthe sceptics (and shaken some scientists) but Climategate does not alter the real issue — that, despite many uncertainties, the risks of catastrophic change justify decisive global action to cut carbon emissions. … The forces of negativity and scepticism, whether self-interested or naïve, must not prevail if we are to reduce the threat to the planet’s future without sacrificing future economic growth.

Important momentum

The Copenhagen summit offers a historic chance to deal with the effects of climate change, writes The Daily Telegraph.

... The response to the reality of climate change need not plunge the world into a pre-industrial dark age; yet to do nothing could have significant implications for mankind's future prosperity. It is possible to conceive of a greener future that is also a more benign one, thanks to investments in cleaner and cheaper technology and energy. First of all, however, it is important that Copenhagen produces an agreement. If the summit fails, it will be extremely difficult to reconvene such a gathering without losing the momentum now on display. ...

Reason to hope

Don’t expect miracles, writes The New York Times, but there is reason to be optimistic about progress in Copenhagen.

Nobody should expect a planet-saving agreement from the negotiations that begin this week in Copenhagen ... But the talks were in real danger of blowing up not long ago. Now there is a good chance for at least an interim deal, mainly because the United States and China, the world’s two biggest emitters, have promised to reduce or slow their emissions and their two leaders have agreed to attend. ...

It isn't going to cost us the earth!

For more on this topic, read Deborah Capras's blog: Earth.