A conference of historic proportions kicked off in Paris this week. It wasn't to discuss the colossal refugee crisis or radical Islamic extremism. Nor was it to come up with ways to combat genocide in the Middle East. No, these talks were for a much, much more imminent global crisis --- according to the White House, the "greatest threat facing the planet today."
You guessed it. Climate change.
French President François Hollande welcomed 150 heads of state to the United Nations conference on climate change (a.k.a. COP21), which officially began on Monday.
Heads of state, like Chinese President Xi Jinping (pictured above), arrived by fossil fuel-powered jets. According to data released earlier this year, China --- the world’s leading emitter of greenhouse gases from coal --- has been burning up to 17 percent more coal a year than the government previously disclosed. The increase alone is greater than the whole German economy emits annually from fossil fuels.
The stated goal of the conference is to generate political momentum ahead of negotiations, which will take place first at a technical level, then at ministerial level. The expected outcome of the conference is a new international climate agreement applicable to all countries.
Protesters in attendance, calling for "climate justice," demanded a signed agreement while rioting and throwing things at police.
Glenn described the mayhem on air today.
"So have you seen the protesters? The protesters have had enough," Glenn said. "Last night, they went out to the streets of Paris and started throwing things at the police. Did you see what they were throwing at the police? The candles that were everywhere in the streets for the memorials [from the Paris attacks]."
President Hollande, who was not pleased with the protesters, said, "These disruptive elements have nothing to do with defenders of the environment."
Interestingly, as Glenn pointed out, neither do the policies or politicians at the climate conference have anything to do with defending the environment.
At the top of the hour, Glenn made a suggestion the talking heads might have missed.
"Maybe the carbon dioxide that's emitted from the world leaders' mouths could be to blame for climate change," suggested Glenn. "I don't know if they've even thought of that."
Watch a segment from the program below:
Featured Image: China's President Xi Jinping (center L) and his wife Peng Liyuan (center R) arrive at Orly airport, outside Paris, on November 29, 2015, for the start of the COP21 UN Conference on climate change summit. The 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) due to be held in Paris from 30 November to 11 December will proceed as planned, despite the terrorist attacks of 13 November. US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel as well as leaders from India, South Africa and China are among the leaders planning to come. The aim is to reach an international agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions and curtail climate change. (Photo credit should read YOAN VALAT/AFP/Getty Images)
