Beneath the blanket of obscure terms used to determine what countries will do to curb global warming lurk a few key concepts. How they are interpreted by negotiators at ongoing climate change talks in Holland will drastically alter climate change measures and the future world environment.
Sinks. The word conjures images of a wash basin to most, but not to climate change policy wonks. Sinks are activities such as forestry and some agriculture that remove heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. But nations disagree on how, and if, sinks should be used.
At a time when forests are imperiled internationally, afforestation, reforestation and land change to tackle global warming may sound like a gem of an idea. It could spur forest preservation by convincing countries to slow deforestation.