Copenhagen Climate Accord Expectations Not High

In the Copenhagen climate accord there is a promise to limit global warming to two degree Celsius, there is no mention of any goals on reducing emissions, which is necessary to ensure that. The poorer countries have demanded it to be reduced to 1.5 Celsius.

The climate accord at Copenhagen may not be an ideal one but it can be considered as a first step towards a long progressive march. Major economies for the first time have come together to take concrete measures to confront the issue of climate change.  The accord provides a system for monitoring and reporting progress towards the national pollution reducing goals.

According to President Obama of United States the Copenhagen climate accord is “an unprecedented breakthrough.” According to Mohammed Nasheed, President Maldives, “this document allows to continue negotiations and have a proper document or legally binding agreement within the course of 2010.” United Nation Secretary General observed, “The leaders were united in purpose but they were not united in action.”

If no quick solution to the climate change is found the hardest hit will be the developing countries even though their levels of gas emission are insignificant on the global scale. Take the example of Pakistan where gas emission is negligible as compared to the other countries even though it faces unpredictable climate that causes destruction to the agricultural economy. The sea levels are rising and vast tract of cultivable lands have been lost due to intrusion, for reason of weather change as well as reduced flows downstream of Kotri. The glaciers are melting at a swift speed which means inundation in the short and medium duration and in the long run drought.

The whole world is facing a threat of warming. Since the past century the temperature of earth has risen 1 degree Celsius. It is anticipated that in the 21 st century this planet might see the temperature rise by 3 degree Celsius. Global warming is not only caused by the emission of greenhouses gases by the carbon dioxide but also by the methane, nitros oxide, sulphur and hexafluoride in large quantities.

More intense heat waves and draughts, heavy rains, stronger storms and rising sea levels would be the consequences of global warming. Sea levels are predicted to advance by 18 and 59 cm (7.2 to 23.6 inches) in the 21 st century. The high floods may be an irregular phenomenon but the over all changing climate is likely to leave behind lasting mark on earth surface. The changing climate consequences will affect every human mankind. About 200 million to 250 million will be displaced by 2050. The World’s poorest countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America face strongest impact of climate change. The dearth of food and potable water would force the people to migrate to habitable place.

If such is the consequences of the future world why not all the rich and poor countries unite together to arrest this drastic climate change for the benefit of the future mankind. It would have been better if the world leaders would have sorted out all the problems of climate change in the Danish capital of Copenhagen. The world now waits anxiously for the positive results of the next climate conference to be held in Mexico.