I like the angle but - 09:28, 13/10/2015

I like the angle but I I think it does matter a lot what happnes in Copenhagen. For the developing countries that are right now experiencing the physical impact of climate change, they want to know that the world is capable of doing something effective. For business, a strong political statement from Copenhagen, while not the legally binding treaty that gives optimum certainty, will give a strong investment signal. (Business groups articulated this very clearly at the World Business Council of Sustainabel Development meeting.) In the words of Gordon Brown, if we can't get an agreement here people will think we are not capable of getting an agreement at all'. It is tempting to feel disillusioned with and dismissive of the process which really seems far too unwieldy to cut through the complexity. But failure at Copenhagen will entrench a feeling of hoplessness; a wasted emotion that will only waste more time that we don't have. People have accepted the reality of climate change and they know what needs to be done. The really hard bit now, and what's holding things up, is countries' divergent views about the compromises needed to equitably share the pain (costs imposed on economies by emission reduction regulation) and the gain (investment in the new green economy). If the negotiators can't deliver this compromise then its going to be up to the world leaders who are very aware that they have a considerable amount of capital tied up in this issue and don't want to go home empty handed.