Our Own Worst Enemy

COP29 is in overtime, as its collective can't agree the final communique. Some nations now want to renege on previous COP 'pledges'. Others want compensation amounts boosted (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2024/nov/23/cop29-talks-go-into-overtime-as-countries-wrangle-over-finance-deal-live-coverage). None of this comes as a surprise to a behavioural biologist. Many species have to compete with eachother for finite resources. Herbivores need to max out on vegetation. Carnivores need to take their prey (who don't want to be eaten). A species most powerful competitors is, however, members of its own species. A species conspecifics want exactly what it wants! This is termed intraspecific competition. The Earth is a finite resource. Rich nations want to stay rich. Poorer nations want compensation for a) the damage caused to themselves by the activities of others; b) choosing not to add to 'greenhouse gas' emissions by industrialising and c) maintaining biodiversity. Genuine altruism never features, when intraspecific competition 'calls the tune'. The trouble is that, this time, we are genuinely 'all in it, together'