Global reduction of carbon emissions needs a stable regulatory environment

Week two: with China falling out with the US, and the developing nations walking out earlier this week, the scene seems set for a tense end to the Copenhagen conference. We already knew that a legally binding agreement was not going to be reached, but if the aspirations on global CO2 emission targets are to be achieved, then putting in place a legally binding regulatory and funding environment must remain a paramount objective. Why so? Well, it may sound a bit morally base and self-serving but, as a lawyer, unless the right legal environment is created to encourage companies and institutions to "make money" by developing and investing in emission reduction solutions, we may well fail in achieving the emissions goals.