In a BBC news release today, the UN criticises the pace of environmental action. "........according to the UN's latest Global Environment Outlook report, long-term problems including climate change, pollution, access to clean water, and the threat of mass extinctions are being met with "a remarkable lack of urgency"". And the criticism may well be justified.

After the latest round of talks at the APEC meeting, it seems that the "all important" Copenhagen summit on Climate Change in December is already set to become a washout. In fact if emissions from the various jets of state involved in the affair are accounted, it is likely that Copenhagen will make a  positive contribution to the acceleration of global warming.

Meanwhile the UN quietly releases its Global Environment Outlook demonstrating that the single issue of climate change that our leaders can't even constructively discuss, is but one of our dire concerns. The list of others is a long one.

For more on the subject and a look at the full UN report click on the link to the BBC news release.