It's the greatest crisis in world history, except for the last one. Let's do lunch!The chief of the United Nations' effort against climate change said Monday there is widespread recognition of the seriousness of global warming but a lack of leadership has created a sense of helplessness.
Especially when it comes to picking up the check for lunch-- a phenomenon described in UN circles as "alligator arms."
Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, ...
I don't remember voting for this guy. Do you remember voting for this guy?
... said he will ask the new U.N. secretary-general to coordinate a worldwide response and organize a conference of world leaders.
OK, I'm confused. Are we having a coordination of conferences or a conference of coordinators?
"Just opening a newspaper'' shows evidence of this sea change in people's attitudes toward climate change, de Boer told The Associated Press ...
which raises the question of whether Mr.de Boer actually exists
... during a visit to Paris, where he was attending a conference on illegal logging.
Clearly, if one is ging to attend a conference on illegal logging, it must be in Paris.
"Everyone is calling for leadership-including me. But I think I've pinpointed the guy who can give it."
"Silly reporter person, did you think I was going to say, 'The buck stops here'? I emote in your general direction."
De Boer was referring to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, a South Korean diplomat who took the reins ...
creating the excellent image of the UN as a horse, but stupid
... of the world body a week ago. "We are at the stage where we need a mandate ...
A mandate? Is that like a resolution? If so, this could take a while.
... from the level of heads of state to get the climate change negotiations moving again,'' de Boer said. "I think the secretary-general has the power to bring that about."
"But then again, maybe he doesn't. Let's discuss it over lunch. Your treat."