Climate Summit Guest List—Points Towards An Interesting Outcome

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As the world buzzes about the events set to take place this Tuesday Sept 23 in New York City, where the United Nations will hold its annual ministerial meeting and the international Climate Summit, many questions have arisen as to who and who will not be in attendance. As the United Nations represents a majority of the world, the plans to forge a new international climate pact by the end of 2015 will undoubtedly affect the entire globe, while some nations have opted not to be a part of the proceedings.

When the United Nations Climate Summit begins this Tuesday, you can expect the US will be represented by President Barack Obama, however, other major greenhouse-gas-emitting nations will notably be absent. Don't expect nationals from China, India, Australia or Germany to be front row and center, as their governments have instead opted to stay home.

Since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, where the United Nations' Kyoto Protocol took effect as a treaty governing greenhouse-gas emissions, the conversation of a truly international treaty has been at the forefront of political discussions the world over. However, noticing that the public social sphere has come to ignore the important topic, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon developed plans for the New York Climate Summit to help garner attention and support for the United Nations' efforts in developing a sustainable framework to help address the world's changing climate.

With carbon dioxide (CO₂) atmospheric levels rising more than 42% higher than pre-industrial levels, and the hottest summer to date just behind us, all eyes this week are on the summit. Hoping to bring a tangible change to our worsening climate by uniting nations under a common goal, the UN will have noteworthy speakers invigorate the conversation surrounding sustainable living and bring together varying perspectives on the issue.

While it is not well known exactly what changes will result from the international Climate Summit or the UN's plans for a new treaty, climate-policy experts are optimistic to see that nations are heading in the right direction towards creating a sustainable carbon footprint. Director of the International Climate Project at the World Resources Institute in Washington D.C., David Waskow says that Americans can be proud of great signs towards progress here in their very own back yards. As President Obama has recently enforced his executive power to bypass Congress and enact policies that reduce greenhouse gases, Waskow says that the nation may see even greater reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as President Obama unveiled plans to cut emissions from power plants that produce nearly 38% of the United States' unwanted byproducts of combustion.

Though overall climate change will only be addressed by a global effort set forth by the United Nations with the backing of all nations involved, the US and researchers can be hopeful that recent progress is merely a sign of a cooler future to come; one with even less smog and climate anomalies.