Copenhagen (AsiaNews / Agencies) - More than 15 thousand delegates from 192 nations gather today in the Danish capital for the UN conference on climate. The meeting, which will last until 18 December, wants to limit emissions of carbon dioxide to cool by at least 2 degrees the temperature of the planet. In the second week it will be attended by many heads of state and prime ministers. There are also those who accuse data manipulation to create a frenzy on the climate.
Originally the organizers had decided to establish mandatory limits on emissions, but the statements of various heads of state suggest that this will be impossible. In recent days, however, many nations have made different promises. Among the major emitters, Beijing has promised to cut carbon emissions per unit of economic growth, measured in 2005 at 40-45% by 2020, India has promised to cut by 24% over the same period; the United States offer a cut of 17% by 2020. The European Union is the most decisive, eager to cut emissions by 20% below 1990 levels.
These cuts will lead to a reduction in the use of energy from fossil fuels (coal and oil) and could hit the economic growth of nations. China, for example, might reduce its 3-4% growth in the coming years, causing closures of factories, dismissal of tens of millions of people and possible social instability.
The International Energy Agency has calculated that to reduce the planet’s temperature by two degrees of 10500 billion dollars in new investment are needed to upgrade power plants, pipelines and refineries.
The reduction of emissions opens a new field in trade. This is why there are also many businessmen in Copenhagen, among the more than 30 thousand reservations.
The meeting in Copenhagen should also bring out how these funds to reduce emissions will be raised and distributed between rich and poor. The latter would be more affected by the new directives, being without funds to invest in new cleaner technologies.
Speaking yesterday at the Angelus, Benedict XVI said that he hoped that the work of Copenhagen will identify "actions that respect creation and promote a shared development, founded on human dignity and for the common good." "The integrity of creation - he said - calls for the adoption of sober and responsible lifestyles, especially towards the poor and future generations."
According to a Globescan survey, 64% of the world consider global warming a serious problem, 20% higher than a similar survey in 1989.
But other surveys show that over the past two years this concern has diminished. A study by Nielsen-Oxford University shows that out of over 27 thousand users of the Internet, only 37% are "very worried" about climate change, 4% less than two years ago.
Controversial is not lacking either: since 1998 global temperatures are no longer increasing, indeed, for the next few decades, many scientists fear a possible cooling. In addition, just before the Copenhagen, a "Climagate" erupted revealing thousands of "stolen" e-mails from the University of East Anglia, which show that dozens of the most influential scientists exchanged information and opinions to "manipulate" data on temperatures in order to maintain global warming on high alert, perhaps to secure new funds and investment in research and industry.
Finally, there are groups that criticize the event in Copenhagen, which goes against its own principles. The Sunday Times has calculated that global emissions caused by the summit in Copenhagen - air travel of participants, site preparation, etc. .. – Will amount to 41 thousand tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of Morocco’s entire emissions for 2006.
