As the Copenhagen conference kicks off today, it is being billed as the last chance to clinch the real deal to tackle global warming and climate change. While the Kyoto agreement in 1997, was ground breaking in its attempts to tackle the world’s growing concern over climate change, and despite over 200 nations ratifying it, it was doomed from the start without the USA agreeing to any of the clauses.

Now, I personally have never bought into the carbon credit story that was ratified at Kyoto. It’s driven more by economics than anything else, and in no way comparable to actual environmentally sustainable steps such as those involving renewable energy, waste management, etc. Enterprises purchasing carbon credits aren’t doing themselves or anyone a favour for that matter.  At the end of the day, it just boils down to having enough money to pay their way out of being responsible, and being able to proudly declare themselves as “carbon neutral”, through someone else’s hard won efforts – making the whole concept of tackling climate change, a sham.

I came across this brilliant parody of the concept of offsetting carbon neutrals, known as Cheat Neutrals (www.cheatneutral.com), whose premise is that it allows people to “offsets your cheating by funding someone else to be faithful and NOT cheat. This neutralises the pain and unhappy emotion and leaves you with a clear conscience.” As ridiculous as cheating credits sound, it really does makes you pause and draw parallels with the carbon offset concept – and a pretty close one at that too!

So, as the summit curtains rise today, all eyes are on Copenhagen. There’s hope as the world looks on with expectations – Obama is attending Copenhagen en route to his Nobel Peace Prize Award in Oslo (now that’s another story!!), and for once, the US is armed with some emission cut proposals. So, can Obama do it this time? Yes he can! Will he, is another question entirely though!

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The dust has settled on all the media frenzy around World Environment Day. If scribes were to be believed, there seems to be increasing awareness, both among individuals and corporates, about issues such as carbon footprint, responsible consumerism etc. It looks as if these have replaced erstwhile buzzwords such as climate change and global warming.

In a way, this is a change for the better, as it brings some actionable items into the ambit of our everyday lives. It was interesting to read about how companies are optimizing their server farms (both for saving energy costs and to be ‘green’), encouraging recycling at offices, deploying water treatment plants and so on.

It will be good if the Information Technology industry takes the lead in introducing clean/green initiatives – not just paying lip service but demonstrating commitment by walking the talk.

After all, most such initiatives also lead to cost efficiency, in addition to the company doing its bit for the environment.

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Tom Friedman’s latest book “Hot, Flat and Crowded” addresses the all important topic of global warming. In his earlier highly successful best seller, World is Flat, Friedman proposes the bold notion of a flattening world, and how that is leveling the playing field. In this book, he talks about America’s  contribution to the current energy crisis and global warming phenomenon, and how that is being aggarvated by the exponentially growing needs of fast growing and highly populated economies like China and India.

Friedman discusses a range of issues including petro politics, imbalances in the supply and demand for energy, climat change, threat to biodiversity etc and then proceeds to propose a way to arrest the trend.

The book is well researched and peppered with interesting anecdotes and enlightens the reader on some of the larger and more long term challenges we face on this planet.

Definitely worth a read.

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