Common threat warrants a common response

In his UN speech US President Barack Obama urged global action against the impending threat of climate change. Noting that mankind has been slow to respond to, or even recognise, the magnitude of the climate threat, he conceded "it is true of my own country as well."
However, he claimed that this is changing and that the US has done more to promote clean energy and reduce carbon pollution in the last eight months - ie, under his watch - than at any other time. He pointed out that during this time the US has made substantial investments in renewable energy projects. And helped by loan guarantees and tax credits, entrepreneurs are constructing wind turbines and solar panels, and batteries for hybrid vehicles.
Indeed, his commitment to cleaner environment is beyond doubt. Yet these efforts are not as intense as Obama tried to portray them. The US Congress is still dragging its feet on some of his key climate initiatives. The US as well as other fast growing economies, especially China and India need to do a lot more.
Notably, China has overtaken the US as the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases because of its rapid economic growth and the latter's economic slowdown due to recession. China though has been quick to recognise its responsibility. A quarter of the country's $450 billion stimulus package is to go into developing green energy technologies. Consequently, it is poised to dominate the new market in green technology. That is likely to spur the US Congress into action to offer a forceful response to its competitor.
President Hu Jintao announced at the recent UN climate summit that his country's greenhouse gas emissions would be cut by a "notable margin" by 2020. China needs to make a more specific commitment than the vague 'notable margin' promise. India too refuses to accept binding limits on its carbon emissions. It being a lot lower on the prosperity rung and having a much smaller carbon footprint, cannot be expected to make sudden changes in its development pattern or to pour billions into green energy technology development like its neighbour China or other advanced countries. Yet it must set goals and take determined steps towards them.
Less developed countries like Pakistan with negligible carbon footprints of their own, have to suffer on account of other nations economic activity. Scientists, for example, have long been warning that carbon emission in China and India would cause the glaciers in our Himalayan mountain range to melt, producing major climatic upheavals. It is important therefore that our neighbours restrain their carbon emissions. And equally important, we need help to adopt clean technologies to combat poverty and pursue progress and prosperity.
Pakistan possesses vast reserves of coal. The US, as President Obama, noted at the UN, is investing billions in carbon capture technologies to clean up coal - plants - the single largest source of carbon emissions in that country. It should provide these technologies to Pakistan on easy terms to help it develop its coal reserves and overcome its power crisis. Other clean energy technologies must also be shared by all nations to avert the common threat of global warming.