Global Issues: Environment ~ US plays tough at Cancun summit

The Global Issues topic on ‘Environmental Concerns’ has a key theme the issue over why it is difficult to reach international co- operation on climate change, and crucial to this is the contententious issue of the relationship and tensions between the ‘developed’ and the ‘developing’ nations.

These issues are clearly illustrated an article in Guardian, predictably as it prime readership are hairy legged lentil eating ethno bongos: Cancún climate change summit: America plays tough - US adopts all-or-nothing position in Cancún, fuelling speculation of a walk-out if developing countries do not meet its demands:

“America has adopted a tough all-or-nothing position at the Cancún climate change summit, fuelling speculation of a walk-out if developing countries do not meet its demands.

At the opening of the talks at Cancún, the US climate negotiator, Jonathan Pershing, made clear America wanted a “balanced package” from the summit.

That’s diplomatic speak for a deal that would couple the core issues for the developing world – agreement on climate finance, technology, deforestation – with US demands for emissions actions from emerging economies and a verifiable system of accounting for those cuts.”