Climate Change & Dysfunctional North-South Debate

Abstract

Though the outcome of Copenhagen and Doha has been seen by many as disappointing but the mere occurrence of such summits testifies to widespread recognition that the ‘climate change' is one of the most important issues facing the humankind  today. The Green House gas effect has contributed to  enormous climate changes that are leading to summer heat waves, melting of snow, rise in sea level, more frequent flooding and in turn affecting health, welfare and future of human beings especially those of developing countries and people living in low lying coastal areas and small Island countries in different parts of the world. Though negotiations have come and gone with limited outcome, it is likely that discussions will continue about appropriate rate for developed and developing countries in greenhouse gas mitigation, the need for better monitoring, reporting and verification for all countries and urgency of rapid action. Amidst this wrangling, there remains at least one indisputable fact – that for the past two decade global warming has been seen as a biggest threat to our environment. Almost every month international conferences are organized on the topic but concrete evidence about manmade warming is still lacking. Richer countries like U.S.A. find it difficult to follow climate change negotiations  at the same time, want India and China to cut their CO₂ emissions. It seems that whole issue has acquired a political dimension where developed countries are pressurizing developing countries despite knowing the fact that these countries are more vulnerable. The present paper aims to explain what the issue of climate change is?. Infact, there is an urgent need to find solution of this problem but the interests of both developed and developing countries are hindering the negotiations.  We will discuss what we can do at  community and individual level to reduce the level of Green House gases and thereby impact of climate change.