VETERAN climate negotiators arriving at this week鈥檚 talks in New York faced an uphill struggle. There has been little real progress since the failure of the 2009 talks in Copenhagen, and the Global Carbon Project鈥檚 latest report suggested global emissions are consistent with the worst of four scenarios 鈥� threatening up to 5 掳C of warming by 2100.
Those on the People鈥檚 Climate March in New York, and around the world, were both determined and sceptical. 鈥淵ou have to keep up hope, but I don鈥檛 think things will change,鈥� said one. Their banners testified to the issue鈥檚 complexity: no-nukes signs next to calls for zero-carbon power, 鈥済randparents for climate action鈥� next to signs deploring pension funds鈥� fossil-fuel investments.
Did the summit deliver? We won鈥檛 really know unless and until a new climate accord is signed in Paris next year. But New York has already improved on Copenhagen by persuading countries to do their climate homework, and in inviting big investors, who duly pledged to decarbonise $100 billion of investments. Both were significant advances.
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鈥淵ou can make history or you will be vilified,鈥� Leonardo DiCaprio told world leaders. The message from everyone: you have to keep up hope.
Leader: 鈥�The possibilities are endless鈥�
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淗ope not heat?鈥�
