Working on poems about each of the IPCC Assessment Reports as well as the various Protocols that have been signed. This shows how unserious some of these conversations really are. There was much discussion over a single sentence. The balance of evidence suggests human influence on global climate. The debate over this sentence lasted well over several hours & various alternatives were proposed. This poem is non-factual fly-on-the-wall dialogue of that event.

*****

IPCC Madrid 1995 — the Saudis take the piss

Saudi Arabia : I’m sorry, “balance of evidence” is far too strong.

Suggestion : “appreciable” 
Saudi Arabia : No.

Suggestion : “detectable” 
Saudi Arabia : No.

Suggestion : “measurable” 
Saudi Arabia : No.

Suggestion : “noticeable perceptible observable” 
Saudi Arabia : No. No. No. 

Suggestion : You sure you’re not just being difficult because your vast oil reserves are threatened by action on Climate Change. 
Saudi Arabia :

Suggestion : “quantifiable” 
Saudi Arabia : No.

pause

Suggestion : “unmistakable” 
Saudi Arabia : Now, you’re just mocking us.

UK delegate : “discernible”

spontaneous applause

Saudi Arabia : That will be acceptable.

“The balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate.” 

FFS. Discernible has connotations of barely perceptible. Appreciable on the other hand is large or important enough to be noticed. 

And, this was for the summary. The bit the politicians & journalists read. Not the detailed stuff the scientists engaged in. 

And so, by relentless tiny paper cuts, the world burns.

*****

Day 28 — TIL about sand

a sandalous praxis

despite boasting the world’s largest driest sand desert
Saudi Arabia imports Aussie sand to fuel its construction craze 

— perhaps we should’ve sanctioned our sand sales
till the Saudi spokesman saw sense (by the sea shore)