Global action on global warming fizzling

The world can breathe a sigh of relief. Unnecessary economic destruction at the hands of climate zealots is likely to be averted at least another year. An international treaty to combat global warming almost certainly won’t be reached this year, despite U.N. and climate change extremists’ insistence that agreement on worldwide greenhouse gas emission limits must be reached at December’s 190-nation climate summit in Copenhagen, Denmark.

As proposed, the treaty would impose economy-crippling emission caps worldwide, and require billions in wealth transfers from developed nations like the United States to developing nations like China. The problem is, the world isn’t going along with the plan. Neither is the climate cooperating.

“For the last 11 years we have not observed any increase in global temperatures,” conceded BBC climate correspondent Paul Hudson.

Meanwhile, China and India, accounting for nearly a third of the world’s population, signed a deal last week saying they won't go along with a treaty that forces them to impose greenhouse gas emission limits, reported Investor’s Business Daily. Other developing nations, including Mexico, Brazil and South Africa, also are likely to reject such a proposal.

Weeks earlier, the Group of 77 developing nations discussed “what they wanted to do about global warming. Their answer: nothing,” the publication reported. Some developing nations view emission capping as an attempt to restrict their economic growth and competition. That’s why developing nations demand what amount to global warming reparations, creating a double whammy for richer countries like the U.S. and Great Britain.

The we-must-do-something-about-global-warming crowd is being reduced to much noise and fury, signifying not much. “Time is running out,” implored Yvo de Boer, secretary-general of the U.N. climate change secretariat, urging that at least nations reach a political statement of principled agreement. “We do not have another year to sit on our hands. This deal must be done in Copenhagen.”

It’s fitting that 2009’s hyped global warming campaign end with a gush of political hot air, rather than substance.