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What is climate change?

United Nations climate talks finally began in Copenhagen this week, after months of speculation and infighting among those at the top.

A blue sea of protesters flowed through central London last Saturday as Britain’s biggest ever climate protest hit the city.

A blue sea of protesters flowed through central London today calling on Gordon Brown to take serious action to cut carbon emissions and stop climate change.

Massive corporations are wrecking the planet, burning huge amounts of fossil fuels and causing climate change as they disregard everything in a frenzied race for profits.

Growing concerns about climate change, fuelled by the failure of governments to address the problem, have led many people to ask what they can do to stop the destruction of the environment.

Small changes in individual lifestyles are promoted as the best we can achieve.

Capitalism is causing climate chaos. It is a system based on blind competition between companies, each trying to make the most money. They see the natural world as something to be exploited for short term gain – a seemingly endless mine of resources and an infinitely large rubbish bin for waste.

Many claim that carbon trading is an effective mechanism for reducing emissions. It has failed spectacularly – yet lots of governments remain committed to it.

We’ve needed action on climate change for ages, but all the politicians want to do is talk about it. There are too many people making money out of polluting the world—and politicians don’t want to stand up to them.

As world leaders gather at the Cohenhagen summit to discuss climate change, Martin Empson argues that the market cannot save the planet - we need a mass movement.