The most recent Global Climate Summit held in New York City has come to a close with a combination of hope and disappointment as leaders of the world tried to find the most effective way to deal with climate change. The summit was meant to re-affirm some of the decisions made during earlier meetings and involved delegates from over 190 countries to deliberate on ways of combating global warming and its effects.

During the one week event, most countries presented ways of cutting down greenhouse emissions, such as new technologies in the renewable energy sector. Ministers and negotiators from developing and developed countries were involved in hectic bargaining, particularly on financing for climate change activities and improvement of reporting on environment.

That is why one of the main results of the summit was the decision to create an international fund to help developing countries in the transition to clean energy sources. Nevertheless, some controversies emerged on how the funding was to be made and the period within which the implementation was to be made.

Some of the developed countries offered big checks but others have claimed that the pledges are insufficient given the severity of the climate change problem.

Further discussions at the summit included the issue of the transition away from the use of fossil fuels. While many European countries insisted on a strict time line to phase out coal and oil dependency, many countries which were oil and coal dependent such as some of the Middle Eastern and Asian countries supported this approach. This tension pointed to the fact that the civilization was faced with the struggle between the economic gains and environmental conservation.

Non-governmental organizations were also important in the summit in that they provided inputs from the victims of climate change. They were there as a constant and painful reminder of the fact that failing to act has its consequences, especially when it comes to people’s lives.

However, there were some positives to be taken as nations strengthened alliances and announced plans of action specific to their contexts. The summit ended with the decision to gather again after six months; this move showed the parties’ fresh determination towards climate problems.

When delegates left New York, the world was to ponder over what has been achieved and what remains to be done. While the summit was not as productive as many would have expected, it did stress the only way in which the world can deal with what is considered by many as the most significant issue of the modern world.