Source: www.smh.com.au
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, December 7, 2009: The Parliament of the World’s Religions is sending a 60-meter-long scroll inscribed with thousands of messages of support and hope to Copenhagen. In it, visitors, monks, priests and people from all walks of life write about their hopes –and fears– for Earth’s future.
Today, 192 nations begin the UN climate conference in Copenhagen, aiming for a binding accord that ensures global emissions peak by 2020 and halve by 2050 to achieve the 2-degree target. Every one of the world’s 6.8 billion people will be affected by the deliberations of the next 12 days. It is in all nations’ long-term interest to reach an effective agreement.
The US and emerging giants China, India and Brazil have stepped forward in recent weeks. All targets combined still amount to only half the cuts required, but big advances are possible if all nations find the resolve to move as one.