GOVERNMENT delegates from around the world are streaming into Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto to put their case to the UN-sponsored debate on how to combat the threat of global warming. The summit's outcome will have far-reaching implications for the oil industry. A clear conflict between national positions in the run up to the global negotiations on cutting carbon dioxide emissions convinces many, however, that the long-awaited meeting will produce only more hot air.
Winds of change
Japan hosts the third major UN-backed summit on climate change next week. Washington's team, facing a vociferous and sceptical audience at home, is set to be the major opponent for negotiators looking to agree legally binding emissions targets. CHRISTOPHER HOPSON sets the scene here while on the following three pages Upstream correspondents around the world assess how the oil industry is facing up to the increasing pressure to act on global warmingJapan hosts the third major UN-backed summit on climate change next week and it seems the US will be the major opponent for negotiators looking to agree binding emissions targets. On the following three pages Upstream correspondents around the world assess how the oil industry is facing up to the increasing pressure to act on global warming