As 180 countries are at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bali trying to figure what should be done once the Kyoto Protocol expires in four years. What kind of results can we really expect from these public leaders?

I suppose the question remains is do we have the elected leadership in place to get on with the job of substantially addressing climate change?   With Australia finally signing onto the Kyoto accord this leaves the US as the only "developed" nation that has not recognized the accord.  With industrialized countries accounting for about 80% of the emissions directly linked to global warming the US government’s lack of willingness to join the international community in dealing with climate change is unacceptable. 

 Climate change is a crisis of unmatched magnitude in human history.  Coastline countries will disappear while food supplies will be dramatically affected.  Drylands will increase and massive migrations of millions of displaced people are direct results of this lack of leadership.  Canada’s record needs vast improvement as does it leadership on the issue.  There are steps that we all can do to stop global warming.  Putting climate change on the political agenda however remains one huge task for civil society if we are to direct the massive efforts we need to halt climate change.