World leaders are meeting in Copenhagen this month with hopes of signing a world saving agreement to address climate change. Will China, which emits more CO² than any other country, lead the way by accepting significant constraints on emissions? Or will it be unwilling to limit its own economic growth to solve a problem caused largely by developed countries? TALK spoke with Greenpeace campaigner Li Yan, Environmental lawyer Charles McElwee and journalist Adam Minter.

Many scientists agree that if the Earth’s temperature rises by more than 2°C compared to pre-industrial era levels there will be major environmental catastrophes including storms, droughts and famines. The climate is ch-ch-ch-changing, and if we don’t do something about it, we may be better off trying to establish life on Mars.

World leaders largely agree with the scientific consensus. The first major step they took to avoid the 2°C rise was the Kyoto Protocol, which remains in effect until 2012, and sets small emissions restrictions for just some developed countries. The world’s biggest emitter per capita, the United States, chose not to ratify the protocol, and developing countries weren’t required to restrict their emissions.

This year the G8 set the global goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent before 2050, accepting a greater burden of 80 per cent reductions for developed countries. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was unimpressed. The science says total cuts of 80 to 95 per cent are needed by 2050. And for the goal to be credible, Ban said, “we need ambitious mid-term targets and clear baselines.”

This month’s talks in Copenhagen were to be the forum for establishing those targets. The EU has shown considerable climate cajones, announcing that it is willing to cut emissions by 30 per cent relative to 1990 levels by 2020 if other developed countries make comparable concessions in Copenhagen. They also promised to cough up US$22 billion by 2020 to help developing countries fight climate change.