Leaders in science, business and policymaking gathered in Kona yesterday for an international carbon dioxide conference to examine issues arising from 50 years of tracking carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere from an observatory on Mauna Loa.

Among the topics are the effects of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide on land and ocean ecosystems, energy alternatives to fossil fuels, economic effects of climate change and the role of climate change in national security.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Scripps, the World Meteorological Organization and other organizations will host the conference through tomorrow.