APEC is here

Most of Sydney has been shut down now as the leaders from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC does not stand for "Australia Pushing Export Coal" as one organisation suggested) is here to set the direction for the majority of the worlds population and similarly for the most polluting and resource hungry countries in the world.

I got the opportunity to work with WWF on a briefing paper for the delegates on the impacts of climate change in the APEC countries. Basically a summary of the 4th IPCC report that came out earlier this year. Unfortunately the Prime Minister of Australia ruled out the possibility that there would be any agreements on emissions reductions. It's borderline silly of Howard and Bush to not take the scientific communities almost desperate warnings serious enough to act. Especially since it would cost next to nothing in the long run and the benefits are enormous. But then again - most of the avoided damage and benefits would be amongst the poor and vulnerable, and one is starting to realise that that is not a priority for the APEC.