Summitry, solving international diplomatic disputes through summits, is claimed to have started by Versailles Summit in 1919. Not all summits achieve their objectives, however, something that is not usually conceded by the “developed countries” who are the major actors in decision making at such summits, since they foot the bill of the outcome. At the Copenhagen Summit this seems to be the case once again.
Global warming – measured with temperature differences between surface and atmosphere; land and ocean; and surface and ocean – is the increase in the average temperature of Earth’s near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century. Global surface temperature increased 0.74 °C in 100 years during the 20th century where the scientist still could not reach a consensus on what temperature increase might be accepted – the acceptable level of warming are assumed to serve as a guideline for CO2 reduction. Most of the observed temperature increase was very likely caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases resulting from human activity such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation.
An increase in global temperature will cause sea levels to rise and will change the amount and pattern of precipitation, probably including expansion of subtropical deserts. Warming is expected to be strongest in the Arctic and would be associated with continuing retreat of glaciers, permafrost and sea ice. Other likely effects include changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, species extinctions, changes in agricultural yields, water scarcity, and some other adverse health effects from warmer temperatures. The regions with temperate rises are projected to experience many deaths from heat exposure. Global warming also is expected to create economic effects such as income inequalities between and within countries and very volatile prices causing fast shifts among different markets.
The UN Climate summit recently held in Copenhagen had initially aimed at limiting temperature rises to 1.5°C and cut CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050. Instead, after lengthy discussions, the summit only agreed to keep temperature rises below 2°C, but did not contain commitments for reduced CO2 emissions that would be necessary to achieve that aim. One part of the agreement pledges US$ 30 billion to the developing world over the next three years, rising to US$ 100 billion per year by 2020, to help poor countries adapt to climate change after long discussions on the climate cash. But US$100 billion is only half the amount poor countries need and one of the most developed countries, Canada, refuses to contribute to this fund. Besides the main decisions, the agreement also set up a forestry deal which is hoped would significantly reduce deforestation in return for cash.
Countries such as China and India have merely promised to cut their amount of CO2 emitted for each dollar of economic activity-carbon intensity, however, they refuse to commit to any absolute reduction targets with any good reason. Not much is expected from India where 400 million people have no access to electricity and 90 percent of the rural population burn twigs, leaves, cow dung and agricultural residue for cooking barely two meals a day.
On the other hand, U.S. has refused to increase its cuts by pointing to the political situation in Washington.
A real deal would have been so important for the world, the critics said; but the leaders of the developed countries have failed to deliver during the summit due to their worries for not being able to impose the promises to their countries. This summit have arisen the thoughts that the industrial development will continue serving the developed countries while less developed countries and the environment suffers from the pollution and the climate change causing loses in the agricultural production.
In conclusion, the most recent summit has shown that the solving international disputes through summits may not work if the citizens of the countries refuse to make concessions from biased use of the resources and do not support a fairer world.




