More than 190 countries are gathered in Cancun, Mexico for the latest round of UN climate talks. But expectations of making any progress are low. This journalist is convinced they will fail altogether.
If so many people across the globe accept that climate change is happening, why aren't we taking more action to tackle it? Is it something in our psychology or culture, a lack of leadership or a problem of economics?
As part of a series of programmes on the 91بب±¬ called the Climate Connection, WHYS is asking: What's stopping us?
That''s all for WHYS today. We''re back on Monday. See you then!
Comment sent via Facebook
18:56
113631290
Pukar - The unfaith full datas available about the climate change. The greedy nature of Government and BRIC nation aswell.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:56
113631290
Kapungwe - the world big players go about it like little children.they run away from the real solutions to this crisis. grow up!
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:52
113631290
Noah emailed - we must begin to address the question of an optimal population, given the finite resources available on our planet and our common desire to consume more and more. we seem to have no problem culling herds in the wild. Why are we immune to this basic, compassionate, scientific approach?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:51
113631290
Kevin in Utah emailed - I do some recycling and have changed out nearly all of my light bulbs. My home is insulated well with new windows. I did these things to save money and be more comfortable. It is a bonus that it will save resources.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:47
113631290
Denis in Kampala - It seems like a hopeless cause for an individual to undertake. We all know that multinationals have a lot of power since their budgets can be greater than those of countries in the developing world.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:46
113631290
John in Ontario emailed (might be a good last comment) - I own a solar powered winery in Ontario. I just want you to know that the customer interest and support has helped us far exceed our first 2-year anticipated success level. I don't know why this isn't sweeping the business world. People want this to happen and they will support businesses who do it.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:44
113631290
Brian in Switzerland emailed - this technology is a red herring, not only is it very inefficient, but the carbon needs to be put somewhere, the most logical place would be where the coal is mined, this is usually a long way from the generating station.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:41
113631290
Mers in Oregon on the blog - It is important to educate people on the difference between "Climate" and "Weather." The fundamental misunderstanding about the difference perpetuates ignorance with respect to climate change issues
Comment sent via BLOG
18:40
113631290
Ghost of Sichuan on the blog - big business and the fossil fuel industry have to be responsible for the issues they cause. The politicians who are supposed to represent the interest of the people are betraying them
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:36
113631290
Mario Poppen from India emailed - The way forward is awareness and a desire to change our lifestyles. We have to consume less and recycle more. Even if this leads to a slower growth rate as developed countries limp out of the recession.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:35
113631290
Andre - Individual consumption and the western lifestyle is the core of the problem and is promoted as the ideal life among poor people of the world.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:32
113631290
Denise in San Francisco emailed - Recycling is not the answer. We should not be helping industry by doing their dirty work. Industry should be required to reduce packaging and make things that last.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:29
113631290
Gary in Indiana on the blog - It is astonishing to me the number of folks who will casually weigh in pro or con on such a complex subject as anthropogenic climate change, when they would quietly accept the pronouncements of a neurosurgeon about strategies of brain surgery upon a loved one. It isn’t the vigor of responses or their direction to which I object; but to their construction upon a foundation of absolutely nothing approaching political or scientific logic.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:28
113631290
Gary on the blog - If the price of gasoline, coal and natural gas reflected the real costs, which include military spending, environmental cleanup, health and social disruption, then we would all do our best to use less energy
Comment sent via BLOG
18:28
113631290
Steve on the blog - Another issue with this is that it will lead to unlimited nanny statism. The government just going overboard with telling people who they can live their lives.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:27
113631290
Elias on the blog - Re Climate Change, "what is stopping us", answer "Pure Economics", whereby each country looks to its own economic interests and one way or another find it counter productive to comply.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:26
113631290
John - What's stopping us? You think massive resistance from polluting industries and the politicians they fund might have a little bit to do with it?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:23
113631290
Peter - Economics got us into climactic change, economics should help us to fix it. High carbon emission industries should be tax to subsidise low emission industries
Comment sent via Facebook
18:23
113631290
Jonathan in Kampala - With an exploding population in subsaharan africa, i think tackling climate change it is practically impossible
Comment sent via Facebook
18:20
113631290
Fazalrahman in Afghanistan - living hand-to-mouth don't think of these issues at all.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:20
113631290
Denis in Nairobi - There is nothing more important than putting meals on the table.
WHYS: The Climate Connection: What's stopping us?
| Friday, 12 Dec. 2010 | 18:06 - 19:00 GMT
More than 190 countries are gathered in Cancun, Mexico for the latest round of UN climate talks. But expectations of making any progress are low. This journalist is convinced they will fail altogether.
If so many people across the globe accept that climate change is happening, why aren't we taking more action to tackle it? Is it something in our psychology or culture, a lack of leadership or a problem of economics?
As part of a series of programmes on the 91بب±¬ called the Climate Connection, WHYS is asking: What's stopping us?
Your comments
Comment sent via host
That''s all for WHYS today. We''re back on Monday. See you then!
Comment sent via Facebook
Pukar - The unfaith full datas available about the climate change. The greedy nature of Government and BRIC nation aswell.
Comment sent via Facebook
Kapungwe - the world big players go about it like little children.they run away from the real solutions to this crisis. grow up!
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Noah emailed - we must begin to address the question of an optimal population, given the finite resources available on our planet and our common desire to consume more and more. we seem to have no problem culling herds in the wild. Why are we immune to this basic, compassionate, scientific approach?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Kevin in Utah emailed - I do some recycling and have changed out nearly all of my light bulbs. My home is insulated well with new windows. I did these things to save money and be more comfortable. It is a bonus that it will save resources.
Comment sent via Facebook
Denis in Kampala - It seems like a hopeless cause for an individual to undertake. We all know that multinationals have a lot of power since their budgets can be greater than those of countries in the developing world.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
John in Ontario emailed (might be a good last comment) - I own a solar powered winery in Ontario. I just want you to know that the customer interest and support has helped us far exceed our first 2-year anticipated success level. I don't know why this isn't sweeping the business world. People want this to happen and they will support businesses who do it.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Brian in Switzerland emailed - this technology is a red herring, not only is it very inefficient, but the carbon needs to be put somewhere, the most logical place would be where the coal is mined, this is usually a long way from the generating station.
Comment sent via BLOG
Mers in Oregon on the blog - It is important to educate people on the difference between "Climate" and "Weather." The fundamental misunderstanding about the difference perpetuates ignorance with respect to climate change issues
Comment sent via BLOG
Ghost of Sichuan on the blog - big business and the fossil fuel industry have to be responsible for the issues they cause. The politicians who are supposed to represent the interest of the people are betraying them
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Mario Poppen from India emailed - The way forward is awareness and a desire to change our lifestyles. We have to consume less and recycle more. Even if this leads to a slower growth rate as developed countries limp out of the recession.
Comment sent via Facebook
Andre - Individual consumption and the western lifestyle is the core of the problem and is promoted as the ideal life among poor people of the world.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Denise in San Francisco emailed - Recycling is not the answer. We should not be helping industry by doing their dirty work. Industry should be required to reduce packaging and make things that last.
Comment sent via BLOG
Gary in Indiana on the blog - It is astonishing to me the number of folks who will casually weigh in pro or con on such a complex subject as anthropogenic climate change, when they would quietly accept the pronouncements of a neurosurgeon about strategies of brain surgery upon a loved one. It isn’t the vigor of responses or their direction to which I object; but to their construction upon a foundation of absolutely nothing approaching political or scientific logic.
Comment sent via BLOG
Gary on the blog - If the price of gasoline, coal and natural gas reflected the real costs, which include military spending, environmental cleanup, health and social disruption, then we would all do our best to use less energy
Comment sent via BLOG
Steve on the blog - Another issue with this is that it will lead to unlimited nanny statism. The government just going overboard with telling people who they can live their lives.
Comment sent via BLOG
Elias on the blog - Re Climate Change, "what is stopping us", answer "Pure Economics", whereby each country looks to its own economic interests and one way or another find it counter productive to comply.
Comment sent via Facebook
John - What's stopping us? You think massive resistance from polluting industries and the politicians they fund might have a little bit to do with it?
Comment sent via Facebook
Peter - Economics got us into climactic change, economics should help us to fix it. High carbon emission industries should be tax to subsidise low emission industries
Comment sent via Facebook
Jonathan in Kampala - With an exploding population in subsaharan africa, i think tackling climate change it is practically impossible
Comment sent via Facebook
Fazalrahman in Afghanistan - living hand-to-mouth don't think of these issues at all.
Comment sent via Facebook
Denis in Nairobi - There is nothing more important than putting meals on the table.