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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...

Nations around the world are filing notice of their proposed contributions for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in the next 10-15 years, or more.   This is being done ahead of the next (21 st ) United Nations “Conference of the Parties” ( COP ) that convenes starting the end of November 2015.   Since the 2009 COP in Copenhagen nations have struggled unsuccessfully to agree to a successor treaty to the Kyoto Protocol (KP) of 1997, which expired in 2012.   Recently the negotiators have moved toward a proposed agreement based on voluntary, but verifiable, contributions toward emissions abatement, instead of the top-down imposition of limits as was done in the KP.   In addition, the agreement, which should be finalized in the 21 st COP , will apply to all nations, without excluding the developing nations as the KP did. This affords the best chance for agreeing to worldwide reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.   The consequences of man-made global...

Pope Francis visited the United States in September 2015.   He addressed the issue of global warming as a worldwide concern on several occasions.   He stressed that we have to begin now, acting in concert, to stabilize the planet and improve our common home, the earth in its entirety.   The need is great not only to protect the environment for our children, but also as a matter of justice for today’s peoples who are impoverished and cannot take action on their own to protect against the damages from warming. Both the Old and New Testaments provide the basis for taking action; the moral foundation motivating Pope Francis is drawn from the Golden Rule.   Leaders of other religions also are calling for action at this time. The Pope’s message, if taken to heart, can help inspire the world’s leaders to reach agreement on climate action at the United Nations conference at the end of this year. Pope Francis visited the U. S. in September 2015 .   He repeated the ...