They are being joined this week by higher-level ministers, who, it is hoped, will hammer out a deal by the end of the week. Dutch Environment Minister Jan Pronk, expressed frustration yesterday at the snail's pace of the first week of talks. I am frustrated with the pace of the talks of the last three years. The pace during the last week was a bit quicker. But if we would continue to negotiate at this pace we would easily reach the year 2008 with the negotiations.
Scientists say greenhouse gas concentrations are higher now than at any point in recorded time.
And while there is no way yet conclusively to link the higher gas concentrations with climactic change, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that long-term changes are underway. Seven of the 20th century's hottest years were recorded during the 1990s, with 1998 being the century's hottest year. The Arctic and Antarctic ice caps are shrinking. And since 1980, there has been an increase in both drought and deluge around the globe. For Europeans, the recent downpours and floods in Britain are only the latest pieces of evidence that all is not right with the planet's climate.