Hot air balloons rise from United Nations

Hot air balloons of the "trial balloon" type in the verrrry political world of climate change diplomacy. The heads of state from the world's two biggest air polluters--China and U.S.--made strong statements about global warming. They are clearly not in favor of it. Meanwhile, the head of the U.N. said climate negotiations is moving at glacial speed. A nice pun, huh? Now that glaciers are moving at the speed of running water. China, a dictatorship let's remember, says it will plant over 100,00 acres of trees and push for more renewable energy generation there. In the U.S. there may be some push to try to get a bill of some kind at some time through the U.S. Senate. Probably not before U.S. attends the Copenhagen Conference.The Canadian chief climate negotiator says he thinks there will be a climate agreement to present to the Copenhagen's global warming summit in December. One observers says there are a few key players in global warming: China, Brazil and South Africa, U.S., Japan and the European Union. Can those nations be brought together? So far, not happening. Nothing unified out of today's flash conference at the U.N. in New York City. Japan's new leader did get some kudos for moving his nation into the active category on global warming. He's pushing for set emissions limits in Japan, a change in policy there.