Six months to go...

The build up to the Paris Climate Conference in December continues:

• 'Green' groups are trying to wind up the pressure on politicians with mass marches/demos/events (There's one in London on June 17th). 
• Major corporations whose businesses depend on the outcome of the conference - one way or the other - are lobbying governments. 
• Nations around the world are making announcements about the emissions cuts they're planning.
• G7 leaders are issuing promising joint statements about climate change.
• And scientists continue to roll out papers and studies that underline the need for action on climate change.

I get the sense that, finally, something significant will happen by the end of this year. Politicians seem to get it - That the decision they make, or don't make, this time round, will determine the future of mankind on this planet. We cannot afford another Copenhagen, we have to act now or any action we do take will be too late.

Why? Because the science tells us that's the case. If the politicians accept that climate change needs to be dealt with, then they've also got to accept the timescales that need to be followed: Carbon emissions must peak around 2020 and fall rapidly after that if we are to have a chance of keeping climate change below 2 degrees C (Any higher would be disastrous).

I am cautiously optimistic that they'll get it right in Paris. And what with the news that China's emissions may peak as early as 2025 now, there is at least some hope that carbon can be cut fast enough to give future generations a chance.