SINCE 1995, the nations of the world have gathered to try to reach a global agreement on carbon dioxide emissions. These conferences are held every year and COP 24 is the informal name for the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be held later this year in Katowice, Poland.

One would think that after 24 years of conferences there would be some progress with legally binding agreements but there are few of these. One would think all countries were reducing their greenhouse gas emissions but China and India are rapidly increasing theirs and they are responsible for 34 per cent of global emission.

Each of these conferences has attracted between 11,300 and 15,000 participants plus another 6,000 attendees from UN bodies, specialised agencies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations and 2,000 journalists.

One must ask how much additional greenhouse gases have been created by say 20,000 people over the past 23 years from their flights, hotels, limousines, taxis and other sources. Probably the CO2 output of small nation.

It is likely that all they will agree to in Katowice is to meet again next year in a sunny exotic location.

Clark Cross,

138 Springfield Road, Linlithgow.