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Home » Opinion » Foreign Views
Urging justice for poor nations in climate fight
By Kofi Annan |
October 19, 2009, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
EARLIER this year, 2,500 scientists warned that on present emission levels, the world was edging towards potentially catastrophic climate change.
Time is fast running out and there is no excuse for inaction. No country will escape its impact.
Rising temperatures, the increase in droughts, storms and sea levels will damage economies and quality of life, bring new health risks and add new pressures to food and fresh water supplies.
It is a tragic irony that the countries which have done least to cause climate change are those which are suffering and will suffer most from its impact.
The least developed countries have contributed less than 2 percent of the greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Yet while climate change will affect us all, those in the greatest danger live in the poorest countries or small island nations, with the least resources to protect their people.
This brings me to the core of my message to you - and to a principle common to every continent and understood in every culture. And that is the principle of fairness.
Climate justice demands that the industrialized countries meet their historic responsibility for the accumulation of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.
They must lead in ensuring global emissions peak by 2020, and fall by at least 50 percent from 1990 levels by 2050. To achieve this, industrialized nations need to commit themselves to reduce emissions by between 25 percent and 40 percent by 2020 as Japan and the EU have pledged to do.
Fast-emerging economies such as Brazil, China, India and South Africa also need to engage meaningfully but in a way which does not prevent them from improving standards of living through economic growth. Developing countries, particularly the least developed, must be given the capability to catch up with the rest of the world through economic development. Climate justice will demand a major transfer of resources to help meet the cost of adaptation and mitigation measures in these nations.
These are large sums. But we have seen wealthy countries find trillions of dollars over the last 18 months to rescue their banks. We know the money can be found.
President Obama has said about climate change, "The science is beyond dispute and the facts are clear" and that "delay is no longer an option." I hope the US Congress will act to support the president as he provides such leadership. It would be tragic if his willingness to lead on the global stage was undermined at home.
(The article is adapted from his speech at the Global Editors' Forum. The views are his own.)
Time is fast running out and there is no excuse for inaction. No country will escape its impact.
Rising temperatures, the increase in droughts, storms and sea levels will damage economies and quality of life, bring new health risks and add new pressures to food and fresh water supplies.
It is a tragic irony that the countries which have done least to cause climate change are those which are suffering and will suffer most from its impact.
The least developed countries have contributed less than 2 percent of the greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Yet while climate change will affect us all, those in the greatest danger live in the poorest countries or small island nations, with the least resources to protect their people.
This brings me to the core of my message to you - and to a principle common to every continent and understood in every culture. And that is the principle of fairness.
Climate justice demands that the industrialized countries meet their historic responsibility for the accumulation of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere.
They must lead in ensuring global emissions peak by 2020, and fall by at least 50 percent from 1990 levels by 2050. To achieve this, industrialized nations need to commit themselves to reduce emissions by between 25 percent and 40 percent by 2020 as Japan and the EU have pledged to do.
Fast-emerging economies such as Brazil, China, India and South Africa also need to engage meaningfully but in a way which does not prevent them from improving standards of living through economic growth. Developing countries, particularly the least developed, must be given the capability to catch up with the rest of the world through economic development. Climate justice will demand a major transfer of resources to help meet the cost of adaptation and mitigation measures in these nations.
These are large sums. But we have seen wealthy countries find trillions of dollars over the last 18 months to rescue their banks. We know the money can be found.
President Obama has said about climate change, "The science is beyond dispute and the facts are clear" and that "delay is no longer an option." I hope the US Congress will act to support the president as he provides such leadership. It would be tragic if his willingness to lead on the global stage was undermined at home.
(The article is adapted from his speech at the Global Editors' Forum. The views are his own.)
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