Climate Change 2007: Pre-conference views and first impressions of Bali · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

As the UN climate change conference begins in Bali, we step back a few days to see what bloggers had to say. From Gristmill in America,  David Roberts celebrated Australia's recent support of the Kyoto protocol, saying
Ever since I was hired at Grist, I've been writing that every developed nation supports the Kyoto Protocol “except the U.S. and Australia.” Guess the U.S. really is all alone now. I feel so proud.
The South African cartoonist and blogger Jeremy Nell drew an editorial cartoon that visually represents (in part) the rising ocean levels at southern cape of Africa and the climate change politics of the Bush administration, while adding a little humor.
Rory Williams  of Carbon smart says that ‘Washington just doesn't get it’. He discusses the IPCC report, of which America has endorsed; the economics and politics of decisions regarding climate change by the US congress.
Perhaps I should be leaping for joy at America's proactive stance on emission reductions, but a couple of things bother me with this scenario. The first is that Congress, once again, is taking a unilateral approach on an issue of global significance on the assumption that they know best (despite joining the game after halftime). The second is that the requirement for products to be carbon certified will be messy, bureaucratic, not synchronised with other forms of carbon labelling, and difficult to comply with. This will place developing countries at a disadvantage.
Rory also challenges the engineering community in the post ‘engineering the future’, saying
When I think about the UNFCCC gathering of 15,000 climate change scientists, politicians, bureaucrats and activists that begins today in Bali, I can't help wondering about the complicity of planning and design professionals in the lack of progress in reducing global carbon emissions since the Kyoto Protocol was established ten years ago.
Dr. Richard Leakey recorded a video message about climate change and conservation:
The blog EkoGaia provided a link to a fascinating You tube video that looks at the logic, the arguments for and against global warming, economics and risks in a GAP analysis of sorts; ‘How It All Ends’
The Solar Taxi blog shares a gallery of beautiful shots from Bali as they confirm that they have arrived in Bali for the conference.
The beauty of this world, that's what we are talking about. Saving it, protecting it, that's what we want to do. Bali is just an example of one of the world's most beautiful places.
More information about the solar taxi is available here.
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