To me, anything that happens in Copenhagen (climate summit) is education – bringing us up-to-date on what we should do and should not.

This story is from the Associated Press.

Some 450 people, including UN officials, climate activists and journos took a green-striped train at Brussels to attend the C-summit. This was to spread the green message – you reduce carbon footprints when you don’t use airplanes.

More such trains have been hooting across the continent – one from Kyoto took the Trans-Siberian route.

Apparently there are people, lots of them, who don’t believe in such symbolism. Most of the 15,000 delegates from all corners of the globe will take the aerial (carbon) route.

Those who believe in the urgent need to cut carbon emissions want a stronger public transport system. And we know it is possible.

We know (from Friedman’s columns and other sources) that Germany has moved away from fossil fuels (coal, oil) and has successfully met its energy needs in solar, wind and hydro-electricity power.

France is doing its bit too. It has taken the initiative in extending high-speed rail through Europe. Those trains move faster than 155 mph. That’s a whizz! They will soon become alternatives to short plane trips. They are ridiculous anyway – the flight duration may take less time than the from-to-airport travel.

A train journey across Europe is literally green. During the 14-hour journey from Brussels to Copenhagen, the train whistles through farmland, hills and quaint houses. The countryside, in whichever country, is beautiful.

If the Copenhagen Conclave comes out with positive policies, investors will be encouraged to put their money in green initiatives (control gas emissions). That would be a real stimulus package.

Will the 192-odd countries work for a common document to sign?