Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.

The damage that climate change is causing and that will get worse if we fail to act goes beyond the hundreds of thousands of lives, homes and businesses lost, ecosystems destroyed, species driven to extinction, infrastructure smashed and people inconvenienced.

Outright bans on plastic bags may not be the best solution, but education and incentives to get people to stop using them are necessary.

Even meeting Kyoto targets barely makes a dent in what we have to achieve.

Treaties, agreements and organizations to help settle disputes may be necessary, but they often favor the interests of business over citizens.

The human brain now holds the key to our future. We have to recall the image of the planet from outer space: a single entity in which air, water, and continents are interconnected. That is our home.

Japanese people cut their energy use by 25 percent immediately after Fukushima. They showed there was huge opportunity there. And instead, the government simply wants to get those plants up and running again.