Expectations are running low for this year’s UN climate change conference.

The conference, dubbed COP 18, is being held in the Arab nation of Qatar, which is (per capita) both the wealthiest and highest polluting nation in the world. At a rate of 58.01 tons of carbon dioxide per person per year, Qatar easily surpasses all other national players (the US emits 19.1 tons annually per capita). However, the fact that Qatar’s population is 1.87 million puts in perspective how miniscule its rate of emission is in the context of the entire world. The EPA puts China as a contributor to 23% of overall CO2 emissions, while the US is not far behind at a respectable 19%. The EU comes in a close third at 13%. For this reason, industrialized nations have been expected to take a leadership role at these climate talks.

However, they have been anything but leaders. In an interview with Democracy Now!, Asad Rehman stated that “the United States has played a very, very destructive role here in the climate talks.” He describes the US as a country in the forefront of the “race to the bottom.” The race to the bottom is a commonly used term describing an international trend of climate change disregard and rampant greenhouse gas emission. The US is apparently not the only industrialized nation to hamper efforts at the climate conference. New Zealand, Rehman explains, is “blocking any progress on a target for 2050.” As the Kyoto Protocol is set to expire this year, new regulations are an imperative.

In contrast to COP 18’s bureaucratic nature, a rally was held in the streets of Qatar calling for action and leadership from the Arab world. An 800-strong group of youth protestors and veteran activists assembled from areas all over the world. A Nigerian woman spoke animatedly about the adverse effects climate change could have on impoverished communities and marginalized peoples, women in particular. In nations that have no constitutionally protected rights for minorities, the societal burden from climate change-induced calamities will most likely be thrust upon the impoverished and the marginalized.

Though the conference lasts for a full two weeks, there is no reason to suspect much action will be taken. If history is any lesson, it will be up to the people to lead the charge.