The environmental movement's struggle is an incremental one. Activists around the world fight local battles within a common, global context. You win some and you lose some, but you're always working within certain limitations: the public's awareness of the issues, the receptiveness (or lack of it) of politicians, the limits of the possible as defined by national laws. Then, every few years, something comes along and changes the rules of the game. As the summit approached, more and more politicians seemed to be getting the message. Just before the summit, a group of lawmakers proposed a package of four green bills. Two are moving forward. The reason is that the world's governments now realize that they will be required to cut their countries' emissions in the future. Even if it didn't happen in Copenhagen, it probably will in Mexico City, or after. It may take time, but now it's clear to everyone that it will happen, eventually.

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