Thus John Kerry, the American secretary of state, in an interview about the climate deal to be signed next month in the French capital. “It’s definitively not going to be a treaty,” he said. “They’re not going to be legally binding reduction targets like Kyoto or something,” he added, referring to the 1997 Kyoto protocol committing states to limit emissions of greenhouse gases. Judging by these comments, the divisions over how to enforce the Paris agreement must be fierce. And this applies especially to America and China, the world’s greatest polluters. According to a recent poll, neither the Americans nor the Chinese are very concerned about climate change. In spite of the global consensus about its dangers, and especially for the poorest nations, they are not convinced yet. In short, whatever happens in Paris next month, the deal will be for the birds. That is homo sapiens at its best. That is, most legal.

Addendum I (November 13, 2015)

Well, well. François Hollande, the French president, rebuffs Kerry on the Paris deal. He insists that it will be a legally binding treaty. Not to worry, though. Legally or not, it is sure not to be binding for long. As the ravages of climate change and environmental degradation start to bite even the rich countries in North America and Europe, the treaty will unravel fast. And there will be finger-pointing every which way. The tiff between Kerry and Hollande is a good example of how the travesty will look. By the way, both of them are exemplary of homo sapiens at this stage of evolution. Legal to boot both of them.

Addendum II (November 28, 2015)

The latest news is that France has backed down on climate “treaty.” Note the quotation marks that now spoil the upcoming deal well in advance. In concession to Kerry, emissions goals are not likely to be binding. In short, the legal status of Paris climate talks is contested only a few days before their onset. No prize for guessing the legal status of the eventual deal five or ten years from now. Homo sapiens in a nutshell.