The recent arrival of a baby polar bear in a Berlin zoo captured the attention of people around the world.
While the furry cub has won the hearts and minds of animal-lovers, it has also drawn attention to the plight of a species whose habitats are fast shrinking due to the effects of global warming.
In its latest report on global warming, the United Nations issued grave warnings about imminent environmental disasters - one-third of animal and plant species will be extinct within 50 years; increasingly erratic weather patterns will lead to frequent floods and droughts; and more than 10 billion people won't have access to drinking water by 2050.
Despite frequent warnings about environmental crises, countries have been slow to take action to reverse the trend.
With economic growth topping their national agendas, industrialised nations are reluctant to adopt sustainable commercial practices and play their part in saving the planet. The United States, the world's leading producer of greenhouse gases, refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, fearing that the restrictions on carbon-dioxide emissions would weaken the nation's dominant position in the global economy.
Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, also did not sign the agreement, arguing that it could lead to many Australians losing their jobs.