The highly-anticipated United Nations climate change conference kicked off in Copenhagen, Denmark, today with countries issuing urgent calls for action to curb global warming. Over 15,000 people, including government officials and representatives from the private sector, environmental organizations and research institutions, as well as 110 heads of State and government – including United States President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao – are expected to take part in the...

On the eve of the historic United Nations climate change gathering in Copenhagen, Denmark, a top official with the world body today expressed confidence that the event will deliver a comprehensive and ambitious new deal. The two-week talks are set to kick off tomorrow in the Danish capital, and by the end of the summit, Governments must adequately respond to the urgent challenge posed by climate change, said Yvo de...

As delegates from across the world begin negotiations at the Copenhagen summit, a survey by The Nielsen Company and Oxford University Institute of Climate Change reveals that while Indians were "very concerned" about climate change, globally, concern on the topic has declined. According to the survey conducted in October 2009, concern for climate change in India has increased by 1% in the last two years, with 54% Indian consumers expressing...

The crucial climate change summit to draw up a new plan to tackle global warming that will replace the Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012 will begin in Copenhagen on Monday. Though not much was expected to emerge at the end of the 12-day meet until recently, hopes of some kind of a consensus on a political commitment have been kindled with world leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, deciding to attend...

A STEELY lot, India’s negotiators for the Copenhagen climate talks, to be held from December 7th, are still afraid of abandonment by China. India’s position looks formidable, so long as the world’s other and mightier billion-strong developing nation shares its demands: for the sanctity of the principles enshrined in the Kyoto protocol (KP), which exempts developing countries from having to curb (or mitigate) their carbon emissions. India’s champions therefore had...