Call for action on climate

From correspondents in MontrealDecember 04, 2005

THOUSANDS of people demonstrated overnight in Montreal, host of the UN Climate Change Conference, to demand that governments worldwide take concrete measures against global warming.Similar protests were expected in about 30 cities across the world, but organisers said the biggest crowd would be in Montreal, where the UN conference started Monday.

Demonstrators want countries to negotiate a long-term plan to boost the battle against climate change.

They also encourage Canada to act as a leader to help actions against global warming and also urge the United States' northern neighbour to exceed its commitments in the Kyoto Protocol
Some 10,000 delegates and members of environmental groups meet here for the UN Climate Change Conference ending December 9.

The controversial Kyoto protocol, aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions, became fully operational on Wednesday after the conference adopted the final rules.

The 34 signatory countries -- which do not include the United States or Australia -- passed the final regulatory measures by consensus.

So-called greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide, which is generated by burning of fossil fuels like gas, oil and coal, enlarge an atmospheric layer that blocks radiant heat from escaping Earth and into space.

Scientists worry that the resulting increased temperatures are melting polar ice caps and heating tropical seas, with unknown and possibly disastrous consequences for Earth's weather, flora and fauna.

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