EXTREME weather events have become more frequent in recent years. Last week, devastating floods hit Georgia in the US and this week Sydney in Australia experienced its worst dust storm in 70 years.

EXTREME weather events have become more frequent in recent years. Last week, devastating floods hit Georgia in the US and this week Sydney in Australia experienced its worst dust storm in 70 years.

Clearly, climate change presents one of the greatest challenges of our time. It is heartening to see world leaders giving the issue the attention it justly deserves. Overall, the outlook seems more positive and world leaders should be more willing to "seal a deal" when they convene at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December.

Encouraged by its acceptance into the World Health Assembly last year, Taiwan has decided to now seek participation in specialised UN agencies. Taiwan Premier Wu Den-yih has indicated that they would like to be admitted to the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change. South Africa should support Taiwan's bid to join.

Greg Lishman, Gauteng