In case you hadn't noticed the build-up in all the papers in the past month or so, delegations from 192 countries around the world have begun to descend on the Danish Capital Copenhagen for two weeks of talks that intend to pave the way for a new global treaty on climate change.
COP15, the Copenhagen Summit or whatever you call it, this meeting of heads of States is arguably one of the most important in modern history. We need to act now to save the planet from irreversible climate change, our leaders need to make history and agree a significant cut in emissions to be implemented sooner rather than later.
But even as the doors of the Summit swing open, history has been made on the frontpages of the world's media.
I speak of course about the common editorial that was collaboratively penned and today published by 56 major newspapers in 45 countries around the world (complete list).
The UK was represented by the Guardian (see below), who gave the editorial the most prominence compared to the others that published it, devoting the entirety of its frontpage. (Normally you will never see an editorial on the cover, let alone the whole cover).
The message given is thus clear: "Unless we combine to take decisive action, climate change will ravage our planet, and with it our prosperity and security. The dangers have been becoming apparent for a generation. Now the facts have started to speak: 11 of the past 14 years have been the warmest on record, the Arctic ice-cap is melting and last year's inflamed oil and food prices provide a foretaste of future havoc. In scientific journals the question is no longer whether humans are to blame, but how little time we have got left to limit the damage. Yet so far the world's response has been feeble and half-hearted."
"The transformation will be costly," it reads, "but many times less than the bill for bailing out global finance — and far less costly than the consequences of doing nothing."
"Many of us, particularly in the developed world, will have to change our lifestyles. The era of flights that cost less than the taxi ride to the airport is drawing to a close. We will have to shop, eat and travel more intelligently. We will have to pay more for our energy, and use less of it."
While I myself am very pessimistic about the prospect of an appropriate agreement being reached, such a common editorial should be commended. Regrettably such a message does not adorn every newspaper frontpage (disappointingly only the Miami Times in America), but so long as it is read by those politicians making the decisions it will have done its bit.
Read the editorial in full by clicking here.
COP15, the Copenhagen Summit or whatever you call it, this meeting of heads of States is arguably one of the most important in modern history. We need to act now to save the planet from irreversible climate change, our leaders need to make history and agree a significant cut in emissions to be implemented sooner rather than later.
But even as the doors of the Summit swing open, history has been made on the frontpages of the world's media.
I speak of course about the common editorial that was collaboratively penned and today published by 56 major newspapers in 45 countries around the world (complete list).
The UK was represented by the Guardian (see below), who gave the editorial the most prominence compared to the others that published it, devoting the entirety of its frontpage. (Normally you will never see an editorial on the cover, let alone the whole cover).
The message given is thus clear: "Unless we combine to take decisive action, climate change will ravage our planet, and with it our prosperity and security. The dangers have been becoming apparent for a generation. Now the facts have started to speak: 11 of the past 14 years have been the warmest on record, the Arctic ice-cap is melting and last year's inflamed oil and food prices provide a foretaste of future havoc. In scientific journals the question is no longer whether humans are to blame, but how little time we have got left to limit the damage. Yet so far the world's response has been feeble and half-hearted.""The transformation will be costly," it reads, "but many times less than the bill for bailing out global finance — and far less costly than the consequences of doing nothing."
"Many of us, particularly in the developed world, will have to change our lifestyles. The era of flights that cost less than the taxi ride to the airport is drawing to a close. We will have to shop, eat and travel more intelligently. We will have to pay more for our energy, and use less of it."
While I myself am very pessimistic about the prospect of an appropriate agreement being reached, such a common editorial should be commended. Regrettably such a message does not adorn every newspaper frontpage (disappointingly only the Miami Times in America), but so long as it is read by those politicians making the decisions it will have done its bit.
Read the editorial in full by clicking here.
