Globalization and the United Nations
After the disastrous month of September, when terrorist attacks and retaliation contributed to storm clouds over the global economy, November demonstrated the resilience of globalization. The global economic downturn has led most of the world to rally together, not only in the hunt for the terrorists, but in reinforcing global cooperation. Several events in November give hope for a stronger international community, with consequent economic benefits.
First, more than 100 countries assembled in Marrakech, Morocco, to complete a unique UN agreement to limit global climate change. These countries agreed to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases in order to slow the process of global warming.
Yes, the US is not yet a party to the agreement - even though America is the world's biggest single contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Yet the fact that the world could agree despite the absence of the US may prove promising. No single country, even the largest economy in the world, can stop the cooperation of others. Sometime soon, the US is likely to rejoin these international discussions.