HONG KONG — Fresh reports every day tell of glaciers melting, thinning polar ice triggering prospects of a scramble for the riches under the Arctic ice cap, worries about rising water levels inundating low-lying countries, and soaring oil prices.
Amid this background, ministers of the Group of Eight industrialized nations and leading developing countries such as Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico and South Africa, their leading scientists, and bureaucrats met in Kobe last weekend to do something about the most pressing environmental issues the world faces.
The deliberations produced just another few million dollars of hot air. They agreed to try to agree to halve emissions of gases blamed for global warming by 2050 and called on the rich countries to lead the way. Just to show that they have their eye on hot-button issues they also declared that reducing the use of disposable plastic bags and other consumer products is a good idea.