Our stay in Manhattan is coming to an end. Everything is ready for cast-off tomorrow, just as planned. We have learned much about the huge economic potential of “green business”.

The New York stopover abounds with events and interviews on the topic of political authorities and climate change. We obtained a meeting at the United Nations with Janos Pasztor, the director of the EMG (Environment Management Group). He and his team are working tirelessly on the upcoming Copenhagen summit, hoping that this worldwide meeting on the environment will be the starting point for concrete policies from governments of the international community. Each is conscious just how important it is to act quickly from now on, but concrete actions are slow to come. The U.S., thanks to the support of the Obama administration, is intending to play the leading role in the fight against climate change. It is, of course, a position that is diametrically opposed to that formerly held by Bush. We are hoping that the new American president will be able to convince members of Congress and will obtain the means to put together an ambitious campaign in favour of the environment.