The CSD got over the hump today, as the first day of the last week concluded.  It was my first day at the CSD though, so getting up to speed was the main priority for me.  I’m not sure I could do a complete recap of the day (nor would that be interesting to read), but two events stood out and, without a doubt, will be a lasting image I have of the CSD.

            The afternoon was spent at two side events.  The first was a presentation on World Climate Change put on by the World Economic Commission and the United States Energy Association.  It was in a large conference room inside the UN.  Utilizing PowerPoint slides the presenters discussed how the possible changes in energy consumption and production the world will need to avoid crisis.  They analyzed different market mechanisms to account for externalities and talked about the important role engineers and technicians would have to play in providing nuclear, clean, and renewable energy to various communities.  It was emphasized that there is no “silver bullet” solution, and that the problem required continued research in multiple areas of energy generation and efficiency.  I was left with the feeling that a lot of positive ideas were brought up, but not a lot of positive steps towards progress.

            The second side event was held by several grassroots NGO leaders working in India and Bangladesh.  This presentation was held in a small tent just outside the UN building.  The presenters held flyers and spiral bound documents as they spoke to a much more modest crowd.  They stressed the importance of utilizing animal manure and garbage to fuel a single home’s, taking advantage of the expertise of women and school teachers.  They demonstrated how their villages had created methane capture mechanisms using simple riggings, barrels, and funnels in their gardens and could concretely describe the impact that these techniques have on the poverty stricken communities they serve.  They only had one request for the future- more resources; if they had just a little bit more money, or people, or barrels, or manure, they could do so much more.  No ambiguity there.

            Walking out of the second side event I could not get over the differences of the two presentations.  Everyone recognizes the differences between developing and developed nations.  However, until you hear the discussions back-to-back under the same roof (well… almost the same roof) do you realize just how wide a gap exists.  The Greeks would be hard pressed to come up with a more tragic tale.  The mighty, technologically advanced countries, able to devote enormous resources and point to numerous advanced solutions, cannot definitively decide what actions to take.  Meanwhile, in the tent outside the developing world is using all its will and every one of its stretched resources to provide the most modest improvements to its citizens, lack only support to do be more effective.

            I don’t have the perfect solution to the dilemma yet, I don’t think anyone does.  However, one thing the CSD is providing is the opportunity for a relatively well-off, educated youth from the United States to see a little piece of Washington and a little piece of the Subcontinent all in one afternoon.  In the end, I think the moral of the story is that the tale still has blank pages, and our feet are not in the Styx quite yet….