Publication - 16 février, 2005
The global atmosphere is a vital, fragile, and precious resource. Without it there would be no life on earth. Its overall stability is a crucial matter, not only for the sake of human welfare, but also for the sake of all the many natural goods and services on which human welfare depends. With the build upof greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and as the climate continues to warm, the question ofallocating responsibility for limiting emissions has become an increasingly urgent and contentious task within the climate negotiations. The situation is complicated by a number of factors, both scientific and political.