FT.com: Manila links typhoon to climate change

Weeks after Hurricane Sandy hit the eastern coast of the United States, a catastrophic typhoon has struck the Philippines, leaving over 450 people dead and 530 still missing.  The Philippine government is blaming the storm on climate change.

This also comes days after 200 member states of the United Nations voted to extend the Kyoto Accord, and, as the Financial Times reports elsewhere, the debate over climate change in Doha reached some tense heights.

Pilita Clark reports,

“Witness US Senator James Inhofe, a self-described leading critic of the talks, who appeared via video-link at the Doha talks to say the negotiations were part of a “far left green agenda” that was “about one thing: spreading the wealth around”.

His comrade, Britain’s Lord Monckton, went one better by posing as the representative from Myanmar and telling the surprised conference that global warming had actually stopped.”

Media have also reported that discussions emerged over if and how rich countries should compensate poor countries for damages due to climate change. Link to FT here and Telegraph (UK) here.

How on Earth people will be able to assess the value, cause and culpability for such damages  is beyond me.

But it is quite possible that the Philippines may be among the first countries seeking compensation.