Copenhagen Nears Deal on Forests

No Joe Lieberman here to screw things up: According to The New York Times, negotiators at Copenhagen have “all but completed” a deal that would compensate countries for preserving forests and, in some cases, peat soil, swamps, and fields to help fight climate change. The Times says the agreement, which will give poor countries new income and allow rich countries to purchase carbon credits, may “turn out to be the most significant achievement to come out of the Copenhagen climate talks.” Rainforest destruction accounts for 20 percent of all greenhouse-gas emissions.