At present, because of too much attention is focused on a global perspective, a lot of local and regional work continues in the shadows - or is not occuring at all. Many of the delegates at these international conferences are using alarmist, and emotional, terms to describe the state of the environment, whilst ignoring local environmental problems in their own countries. As WHO detailed in its latest report, one of the biggest environmental problems is the health costs of pollution caused by petroleum driven local traffic in big cities. If they focused on solving this problem first it would ease wider environmental pressures - but there are many other good reasons to act locally now. Deal will these locally and once again the wider environmental pressures will be eased.
B laming other countries for inaction does nothing for the environment, health or the economy.
As most of the damaging effects are local it is pointless waiting for the world to agree. Act at home. Regions that act now will gain tomorrow. The sad thing today is that a lot of young people who want to contribute to a better world are unnecessarily alarmed by the media's focus on the global perspective. Young folks like to have a universal element to their heroism, but that ignores the impact that local actions can have.