A Dehli-cate Balance

Delegates from around the world are meeting in New Delhi, India, today for the latest round of international talks on climate change. In part because the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions -- the United States -- has rejected the Kyoto Protocol, the meeting is focusing on ways to adapt to climate change rather than on ways to curb it. Delegates will discuss "minimizing vulnerabilities and preparing for worsening droughts, floods, storms, health emergencies, and other expected impacts," especially in developing countries, according to a statement issued by the U.N., which is sponsoring the meeting. Attendees will also address the related question of how much industrialized countries will help pay for the consequences of global warming in developing nations. Some environmental organizations are criticizing the shift in focus at the talks, saying the international community should be intensifying efforts to control climate change at the same time as it seeks to deal with the consequences.