Fine Words?

Ahead of a UN summit, 64 'world leaders' have signed a pledge to put wildlife and controlling climate change 'at the heart of post Covid recovery plans' (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/28/world-leaders-pledge-to-halt-earth-destruction-un-summit). This is welcome but there is an element of 'motherhood and apple pie' (things everyone can feel positive about) concerning the announcement, as they don't detail how each of them are going to fulfill their considerable obligations. Although they don't say how they will get there, they will apparently arrive in this Nirvana by 2050 (which might well be on the late side for climate change and loss of biodiversity). The general public overwhelmingly recognise (it's seen in surveys) that we have an urgent problem. It is claimed, however, that one reason, why they feel individually powerless to do anything about it, is that other, bigger 'players' are not doing their part (or are, in some cases, counteracting what could be achieved). It is notable that Australia, Brazil, China, India, Russia and the USA are not signatories> These populous countries include all the really big polluters and/or destroyers of natural environments (often for claimed 'growth' and 'economic' reasons). I think we can only start to get a little more confident about having a viable planet when a) the big six sign up (and everyone actually means it and will not renege on 'agreements' a few years down the line, following changes of government); b) a proper plan of actions is put in place and c) the 'end date' is brought forward by at least 20 years. In a real sense, we are 'all in it together' as we share the same planet.