Global Leaders reach Climate Deal

I came across this rather interesting title as I was reading my email. As I read the article on climate change and the 'new' global solidarity to combat it in unison, my interest in this never-dying story was piqued. Al-Gore with his gory movie "An Inconvenient Truth", Schwarzenegger with his green policy push in California and new warnings of total climate chaos blaring through the airwaves. In this cacophony of noise, do we think that global warming is a real problem and can it be solved?

There is sufficient scientific evidence to claim that global warming is happening and its affecting our lives adversely. Most agree that human action and the emission of copious amounts of greenhouse gases from our factories, homes etc. contribute to global warming. Answer to solve global warming seems rather simple. Get the entire world to reduce greenhouse gases, switch to alternatives, tax petroleum and the list goes on. Everybody knows there are solutions on the table but implementing the plan is as tricky and elusive as ever. I have no doubt the latest global leader summit is another event that the optimists would trumpet as a 'watershed' or 'milestone' event that would create a sustainable, effective solution to the crisis. I certainly doubt these claims and I believe that the solution doesn't lie in the leaders but in the grassroots. Changing mindsets is the most crucial element in combating the crisis not global forums and stirring yet teeth-less speeches from global leaders.

Global warming is no longer viewed as the 'next' generation's problem. It has been linked to several calamities we experience in our daily lives. Freak weather seems to be becoming the norm rather than the exception. Our unsustainable resource consumption has sent costs of raw materials skyrocketing and burning a hole in our pockets. Hence,the truth has dawned upon us that our continued reckless exploitation of nature would come with a heavy cost.

Society realised that it had to change its ways to create a sustainable environment and tackle global warming in order to stem the tide of current calamities and prevent it from snowballing and burdening our later generations. The sense of urgency is palpable, especially in developed countries where modern media and education have brought this message to the populace.

With this mindset shift, comes the political shift. Politics is a game where you always have to be in step with the feelings of the public. Now, most politicians play to the new tune of being 'climate crusaders' and 'tree-hugger'. Sen. John McCain, a presidential candidate, together with Sen. Joe Lieberman is pushing for new legislation to cut emissions. It is no longer a 'leftie' or 'fear-monger' to be talking about climate change. Its become mainstream because people's perspectives have changed.

It pays to be green. Our binge in petroleum fuelled not only global warming but has led to a scarcity problem and a sharp rise in energy costs. So people shift to alternative energy and try to cut down on their energy consumption. Now, there is a huge market for 'green' goods that are cheap and at the same time environmentally friendly. We all want cheap energy that doesn't pollute or harm us. As a result, more venture capital has flowed into alternative energy research to satisfy the increase in demand. More effecient wind turbines and solar panels are being created not by the speeches and policies of politicians but by the surge in market demand for alternatives.

I believe that civic groups and non-governmental organisations, philanthropic organisations should lead the way and generate a bottom-up reaction. Political leaders do create awareness of issues and propose grand solutions. But it is the society that holds the key to solving global warming.