It's climate change, stupid

The world will be a cleaner and greener place if developed countries such as the US help developing nations cut carbon dioxide emissions

The special climate change conference called by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon ended this week on promises, not hope, as many before it have. Closing the conference, Ban said: "We heard strong commitment for a meaningful, universal climate agreement in Paris next year, with a first draft to be presented in Lima in December."

The UN secretary-general has taken the initiative to try and resolve many international issues, primary among them regional conflicts and the menace of climate change. But without the participation, and of course help, of the international community, especially the big players, it is not possible to resolve even the most trivial of issues, let alone the complex issue of climate change.