Can Paris reconcile political, economic interests to combat climate change?

Medford, Massachusetts

IN A POETIC irony, while world leaders met in Paris early this month to address the climate change threat, two of the major countries key to global warming saw their capitals - Beijing and Delhi - smothered in dense smog. Beijing even issued its first "Red Alert", urging citizens to stay indoors.

As the so-called 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) concludes in Paris, there are commitment…