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In the aftermath of the Copenhagen climate conference where everyone is blaming everyone else for it’s failure, it is interesting to note that it is a start. I thought this was the conlsusion and failure to agree legally binding targets was doom. Gathering 193 countries together with over 110 world leaders is unprecedented, the momentum was there and yet nothing was agreed. I for one want a treaty if only because Europe has Unilaterally set targets and if other don’t then industry will be imperiled.

The fallout is starting to become acrimonious not just between Europe, the US and China but developing nations. Lumumba Di-Aping, who chaired the Group of 77 and the bloc of 130 poor nations said it “is asking Africa to sign a suicide pact, an incineration pact in order to maintain the economic dependence of a few countries. It's a solution based on values that funnelled six million people in Europe into furnaces." Strong stuff indeed and in poor taste to say the least. There may be newer and better internationally agreed policies around the corner but it may be that this was the height of international diplomacy and it has turned into a Tower of Babel...

Best wishes for the Christmas holiday and a prosperous new year from all at Water Energy & Environment.

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Tim McManan-Smith
Group Editor