World GHG mitigation conference

Energy and environmental ministers from the world's 20 most greenhouse gas emissions countries have met in Monterrey, Mexico yesterday to discuss climate change.

According to NASA figures, last year was the warmest year since 1860 until now. And the latest predictions suggest that temperatures in this century will increase by about 3 degrees Celsius, causing floods, droughts and starvation. Experts predict that millions of people will have to emigrate from low-lying countries like Bangladesh, if sea levels rise by even 1 meter.

Many developing countries want industrialized countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions even further before requesting it from poorer countries. The US is currently the most polluting country in the world, and large countries like China, India and Russia are also catching up quickly. There is an additional thermal power plant built in China every few days.

Developing countries have come up with a number of proposals, including burying greenhouse gases such as deep underground carbon dioxide, and levying high taxes on customers who use too much energy.

Power plants discharge too much toxic gas into the sky (Photo: latrobe)