Options of saying a bottle is half full or half empty!

Comments on Peter Sheehan “Containing global warming after Copenhagen: Learning-by-doing approaches”, 2/12/2010, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2010/12/02/containing-global-warming-after-copenhagen-learning-by-doing-approaches/
While most of what Professor Sheehan said may be true, there is a danger that some countries may be free riding in the process of certain other countries' actions on climate change.

Many countries have taken and are continuing to take serious efforts and actions to deal with climate change. They include some large developing countries such as China that sets ambitious targets for reduction in the economic intensity of emissions.

However, and clearly, businesses in Australia have also been saying loudly that uncertainties on carbon pricing are putting off necessary investment for the future, especially in the power sector or sectors that may be affected by energy prices.

What that means is what the bottom-up processes Professor Sheehan talked about are far from enough for businesses to take adequate actions for what is required by the needs to tackle climate change.

If the case in Australia is this, what about the case in the US? I would guess it is not too much different from here.

So while we have the options to say a bottle is half full or half empty, we need to face the basic fact as opposed by different feelings of using different options of saying the same thing. There is a danger that we may delude ourselves by choosing the option of saying that sounds better and just gives us a better feeling.