The devastating effect of storms, tsunamis, floods and other natural catastrophes across the world is mostly a consequence of rising sea levels — a direct impact of global warming. The last few years have seen the consequences of global warming like perhaps never before. More than 110 people were killed in the US alone by Hurricane Sandy, apart from 67 casualties in the Caribbean and two in Canada. In the Philippines, the deadly typhoon Bopha killed at least 540 people, injuring another 1,100. Topping the misery chart in recent times is Japan’s tsunami, which claimed a jaw dropping 15,700 lives. All these calamities, are posing an impending danger to human lives. This year itself has begun with a scary chill across the world with temperatures falling to new lows and pollution smogs hitting new highs. Delhi is a good example where the shivers of winter were felt like never before.

Given the fragility of human civilisation, this rapidly changing climate and deteriorating ecosystem has induced among mankind. Yes, there is no clear evidence to pinpoint that global warming will end of the world but there is no denying that human activities have made life worse. Increasing pollution and use of toxic products have caused diseases (both new and old) to incubate and flourish. Fear and panic has also given developed nations a reason to meet every year and make policies that seem pro-environment but in reality are pro-rich and anti-poor.

One such global event that is organised under the pretext of addressing global warming is the UN Climate Change Conference. The latest conference, better known as COP 18 (Conference of Parties; session 18), which concluded in Doha last month is a case in point. Nothing can be more paradoxical than the COP 18 gathering, at a time when we really need fast and serious action. A summit on protecting the environment was held in a city (and a country) that in all probability is the largest contributor to global warming.

No renewable sources of energy are used in Doha, which has a per capita annual carbon emission of 50 tonnes that is three times that of the US, eight times that of China and 33 times that of India. Moreover, this so-called Climate Change Conference, year after year, witnesses delegates flying down in their fuel-guzzling private jets from all corners of the world, parades of motorcycles plying through the streets for security checks, water supplied from state-of-the-art power consuming desalination plants (in a country where water is the most scarce resource), exotic food items being mobilised from various regions and delegates commuting in sedans and SUVs that guzzle tonnes of fossil fuel.

For the 17,000 delegates who attended the last conference, more than 21,000 rooms at 87 hotels and residences were blocked, which wasted monumental energy while providing the most luxurious of services. The amount of environment destruction caused can be gauged by the fact that a similar conference back in 2009 released around 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

The Doha COP 18 conference was more of a freewheeling exercise where delegates from across the globe gathered without a purpose, commitment or initiative in mind. For those who still remember the moribund Kyoto Protocol (a resolution between industrialised nations that placed restrictions on their emissions), the agreement was supposed to expire by the end of last year. Yet, there was no sign of any major country coming forward to extend a token of consent for its extension, though a resolution was taken finally to make a second commitment to reduce emissions by the end of 2020. However, the US never joined the Kyoto Protocol, while Japan, New Zealand, Canada and Russia didn’t see any virtue in its extension. At present, the Kyoto Protocol only represents a meagre 15 per cent of the global emission of greenhouse gases — a sharp departure what was promised when the agreement was signed in in 1997. A broader agreement should have been reached at Doha as emissions are not merely restricted to developed nations.

The Doha conference brought nothing but disappointment to climate campaigners, rights groups and the scientists who expected at least some concrete steps and realistic targets with earmarked carbon cuts within a stipulated deadline. But nothing happened except some rhetoric and efforts to protect the public opinion in the home turf of concerned countries — a US delegate candidly admitted of a possible backlash back home in case they committed to fossil fuel reduction.

All said and done, climate change is becoming a great cause for worry. We desperately need a focussed platform that delivers results. The much hyped COP 18 didn’t seem to be that. At best, it allowed political leaders to showcase their oratory skills and allowed some backdoor lobbying. Also, the conference brought a new wave of tourism to Qatar, which of course comes at a huge cost to the environment. And not to forget, the biggest climate change summit was organised in a county that itself earns around $7,000 million every month from the export of fossil fuel! Undoubtedly, COP 18 was a failure. It’s time for a serious rethink.