The December 2015 Paris Conference on Global Warming
The U.N. is convening a conference in Paris in December 2015 whose objective is to finalize a new treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast to the Kyoto Protocol which expired in 2012, the draft treaty under consideration would apply equally to all nations and would achieve reductions in emissions by stated policy objectives developed domestically by each nation. This new framework is intended to overcome fundamental points of contention among nations that arose from the Kyoto Protocol. At the time of writing 161 out of the 193 nations participating in the Paris conference have submitted their emission reduction commitments. Examples from the U.S. , China and India are presented and contrasted here. A recent survey of public opinion from 40 countries indicates wide support for an agreement to reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases. It is hoped that the conference will succeed in agreeing to a final treaty, and that it will be r...