The quiet lady sings: what now after Copenhagen?

How is the Copenhagen climate change conference to be rescued for posterity? Maybe the politicians will be embarrassed by world public opinion, but more likely not -- as voters will continue to be more focused on relatively short-term issues, like salary levels, taxes and employment.

Jimmy Carter, the former US President, wrote yesterday about the Quartet (US, EU, Russia and the UN) being reformed to consider the plight of the Palestinians and their quest for a homeland. The Quartet, he argued, might have more clout than single nations in forging a solution to negotiations that have been going on for decades. He praised Baroness Catherine Ashton, the new EU foreign affairs chief, for flying this kite: a 'quiet lady' who just might know what she's doing?

Perhaps the Quartet, or some similar grouping, might also consider climate change on their agenda, if the 193 countries present at Copenhagen is too large a number to manage? When crisis strikes globally, perhaps global bodies need to take action on behalf of the world? And the UN should come into its own, as long as the people at the top are strong enough.