Lessons of Copenhagen

Representatives from virtually all nations recently gathered in Copenhagen to try to solve the problem of global warming, which threatens to ruin the environment of the whole planet. Yet despite the urgency of the problem, and strenuous efforts by several nations, the summit is being called a failure. There have been no firm commitments to reduce CO2 emissions. The bottom line is, there will be no alleviation of warming and its devastating effects--rising sea levels, disappearance of polar ice, flooding of coastal communities and desertification inland. Failure to address the core issue augers environmental disaster.
The failure of Copenhagen is an indictment of the political status quo. Like Kyoto, Copenhagen was ineffective for two basic reasons. First, the solution to global warming is sacrifice. Reducing emissions means less industrial output, less profit and fewer jobs and material goods sought by the masses. However vital such sacrifices may be, in view of the consequences of climate change, a democracy simply can't impose them, because they are too unpopular. Second, even if one or more states were able to compel sacrifice, there is no global authority strong enough to ensure that all, or enough, nations would follow suit to solve the problem. In short, saving the planet requires an end to democracy and national sovereignty. Copenhagen shows that both are obsolete and should go, if Earth is to survive.