Former Leaders Backtrack on Climate Commitments

In order to stave off the worst climate change scenarios, experts have recommended that the world's countries must aggressively expand their efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Some surprising countries are headed in the opposite direction.

November 22, 2013, 6am PST | Jonathan Nettler | @nettsj

The U.N. led climate talks taking place in Warsaw are "intended to lay the groundwork for a new global climate treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol." However, like many such gatherings, they've been beset by their share of disappointments, observes John Upton. "But of the 190 countries that have sent delegates to Warsaw, four in particular have been the target of international anger over recent announcements, acts of obstructionism, and failure to commit to protect the world from global warming."

One is the host country, Poland, and the three others (Japan, Australia, and Canada) had formerly been recognized for their leadership in tackling climate change. Upton outlines their contentious actions.

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U.N. climate talks: Four countries behaving badly

Published on Monday, November 18, 2013 in Grist