Financial Crisis Equals Environmental Concerns

Luka Suon
posted October 15, 2008 at 7:50 p.m.
Sociology 202

With the financial crisis taking over the world, and bailouts of financial giants seeking to alleviate the ever growing anxiety the question begs, what will become of the poor countries who expect aid to help them in their fight against the ravages of global warming? Already, with companies like Merrill-Lynch and AIG going under and governments rushing to their aid the concern over global warming has become a distant memory of a bygone era, a concern at the least germane to the current worries. While the European Union summit still sought to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by the year 2020 there were still divisions on how to reduce these emissions. Already, several countries on the Continent have claimed to have made drastic cuts to their carbon emissions. Some leaders have even expressed that cutting greenhouse gases were more important of an issue than the economic shambles going on right now. In spite of the adversity many nations in the EU call for a firm commitment to this issue.
The conference to discuss this issue will meet in Germany in December said to conclude in 2009. There is an expectation that at least $200 billion will be expended to help countries adapt to the conditions spawned by global warming. The high amount expected seems light in comparison to the amount many governments paid in the great bailout of 2008. While financial ministers from 30 countries will meet in Poznan, Germany, to discuss the financial situation one thing will remain in the back of their mind.
I applaud these men (and women). The commitment to combating global warming should continue in spite of adversity, be it war, plague, or financial turmoil. As in any case it is another example of man's stupidity, this being on a planetary scale. We should remain committed to stopping global warming yet simultaneously remembering that there other concerns here on earth that require just as much attention. That being said, I add for the record that what can be done immediately is little; what can be done soon is better expected.








Links:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081015/ap_on_re_eu/eu_meltdown_climate_change;_ylt=Agut.9aC4mkmEPwmLzY6axJvaA8F