Politics of Global Warming and Climate Change

Abstract

The study examined some aspects of the politics of climate change. Climate change science, evidences, impacts, mitigation and adaptation have been unduly politicized because of the economic, developmental and strategic interests of nations (developed and developing) and multi-national oil companies who benefit from the fossil fuel-driven economy. United States of America, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol - a global treaty of 1997 to reduce the global emissions of the four principal greenhouse gases (CO2, NH4, NO2 and CFCS). Also highlighted is China which is currently the 2nd largest economy and projected to  surpass USA as the highest global emitter of greenhouse gases in the next two decades. There are areas of discord that have stalled many climate change conferences and negotiations between the developed and developing countries such as transfer of technology, intellectual property rights, payment of reparations, green funds, mitigation versus adaptation. The politics of climate change is a major distraction and it amounts to the proverbial fiddling why Rome burns. The global community should
therefore jettison politics and face the reality of climate change headlong with a view to saving humanity and the environment from this “global time bomb”.