The biggest issue and the biggest problem! Catch 22
August 10th 2007 00:12
It can be argued that Climate Change is the biggest issue facing our Generation. If Climate Change is the biggest issue facing our Generation it can be argued that the biggest problem we need to solve is..... Should developing countires be allowed different rules? i.e. Should Developed Countires foot the Bill?
At the moment we have a bit of a stalemate going on behind the scenes, the U.S. have said they will play nicely at the U.N. Conference on Climate change in December if China and India play nicely too. Catch 22 my friends.
China and India are pretty much resigned to the fact that they are happy to help combat Climate Change BUT NOT at the expense of Economic growth. They argue that given the stage of Econominc Development they are at it isn't really fair that they have to play by the same rules as their PER CAPITA emissions are much lower than first world countries. So they are prepared to play but not really.
This is a pretty big dillema, as we have prevously discussed ; China has already had a meteoric rise into the largest emitters podium this year and India is increasing at a pretty rapid rate too.
It is easy to understand their arguments but given their countries stand to lose the most from damage caused by Global warming (see below) you would think they would want to be part of the solution.
It can also be argued that they have the benefit of technology so theoretically should be able to engineer economic development at a lower cost to the environment than first world countries historically did given we have done the hard work and research and have technologies that are more efficient and produce less emissions and they can learn from our mistakes. It can also be argued that they should embrace these technologies given the running costs are lower hence they can engineer their growth with higher profitability.
It scares me to think what would happen if the next generation used the same argument, we didnt make the mess, so we don't need to clean it up or do anything about the environment and we have a right to get rich at any cost too...so take that!!!!!..... could lead to a very big spiral of disaster. Let's hope they all come to their senses the U.N. conference will be very interesting watching.
Here is an interesting article from this mornings SMH that partially inspired this post, but it is interesting reading nonetheless.
Just some thoughts on a Friday......
Lead by example on climate change
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Rajendra Pachauri
August 10, 2007
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One of the most serious aspects of climate change is the equity dimensions of the problem. The largest responsibility for the increase in concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere lies with the developed countries, but the worst impacts and the highest vulnerability applies to several developing countries.
The Asian megadeltas, which include cities such as Dhaka, Kolkata and Shanghai, would be some of the most vulnerable spots against the projections of sea level rise, with prospects of coastal flooding and other serious consequences that would affect a large number of people and property.
It is entirely possible that some of the prosperous cities in Asia would suffer seriously from the human and economic consequences of extreme events. With the growing vulnerability of these habitats, economic loss and human misery would increase. The city of Mumbai within a span of two years has suffered two incidents of heavy rain descending in a short period of a few hours on each occasion, the economic consequences of which are being felt now and are likely to continue for several years.
The world has provided hardly any resources for adaptation measures in the most vulnerable countries, such as the small island developing states where the very survival of human beings is at stake. A country like India, therefore, has not only to raise its voice on the inequitable nature of actions and responses to climate change between developed and developing countries, but also to ensure that in its own path of development it pursues the objectives of sustainability. The co-benefits from such an approach are so overwhelming that even in the absence of climate change such an approach would be justified for reasons of energy security, reduced local pollution and in several respects the creation of new employment.
The popular approach in developing countries is to emphasise the stand that their governments cannot and will not accept any targets or commitments to limit emissions. The overlap between mitigation measures for improving local environmental quality and managing greenhouse emissions is so large that several actions need to be taken for domestic rather than global considerations.
Consequently, the time has come to identify so-called no regrets measures that would help to address local environmental problems primarily, but would also produce large global benefits, by which India can justly claim that it is undertaking its share of the "common but differentiated responsibility" that is defined in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.Given the rapid growth of the Indian economy, urgent shifts towards a sustainable path of development are essential. Otherwise, investments and infrastructure would be created that would use natural resources unsustainably, to the detriment of coming generations and leading to a stage where the economy itself would suffer adversely. What is good for India is good for the world, and it is in realisation of this fact that India has to emerge as a nation that others would like to emulate. By establishing a benchmark India would also gain economic advantage, since the processes, technologies and products that it develops would provide a competitive advantage that would open markets globally for Indian suppliers.
It is appropriate to recall Gandhiji's famous words "Be the change that you want to see in the world".
May I also say that the world and posterity demand that Australia also seize this opportunity for reassessing its position and act resolutely on the basis of the scientific evidence and actual observations to chart out a new path of development. Indeed, Australia can be a major example for other developed countries and particularly for its neighbours in Asia that are emerging rapidly at various stages of development towards economic prosperity. A shared vision in this respect between India and Australia can have much greater global appeal and potential than if the two countries act in this regard entirely on their own.
I would, therefore, plead for a closer relationship of development issues with a sense of urgency. A churning of conventional thinking and reappraisal of past practices and policies is essential.
*
* Normal font
* Large font
Rajendra Pachauri
August 10, 2007
Page 1 of 2 | Single page
AdvertisementAdvertisement
One of the most serious aspects of climate change is the equity dimensions of the problem. The largest responsibility for the increase in concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere lies with the developed countries, but the worst impacts and the highest vulnerability applies to several developing countries.
The Asian megadeltas, which include cities such as Dhaka, Kolkata and Shanghai, would be some of the most vulnerable spots against the projections of sea level rise, with prospects of coastal flooding and other serious consequences that would affect a large number of people and property.
It is entirely possible that some of the prosperous cities in Asia would suffer seriously from the human and economic consequences of extreme events. With the growing vulnerability of these habitats, economic loss and human misery would increase. The city of Mumbai within a span of two years has suffered two incidents of heavy rain descending in a short period of a few hours on each occasion, the economic consequences of which are being felt now and are likely to continue for several years.
The world has provided hardly any resources for adaptation measures in the most vulnerable countries, such as the small island developing states where the very survival of human beings is at stake. A country like India, therefore, has not only to raise its voice on the inequitable nature of actions and responses to climate change between developed and developing countries, but also to ensure that in its own path of development it pursues the objectives of sustainability. The co-benefits from such an approach are so overwhelming that even in the absence of climate change such an approach would be justified for reasons of energy security, reduced local pollution and in several respects the creation of new employment.
The popular approach in developing countries is to emphasise the stand that their governments cannot and will not accept any targets or commitments to limit emissions. The overlap between mitigation measures for improving local environmental quality and managing greenhouse emissions is so large that several actions need to be taken for domestic rather than global considerations.
Consequently, the time has come to identify so-called no regrets measures that would help to address local environmental problems primarily, but would also produce large global benefits, by which India can justly claim that it is undertaking its share of the "common but differentiated responsibility" that is defined in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.Given the rapid growth of the Indian economy, urgent shifts towards a sustainable path of development are essential. Otherwise, investments and infrastructure would be created that would use natural resources unsustainably, to the detriment of coming generations and leading to a stage where the economy itself would suffer adversely. What is good for India is good for the world, and it is in realisation of this fact that India has to emerge as a nation that others would like to emulate. By establishing a benchmark India would also gain economic advantage, since the processes, technologies and products that it develops would provide a competitive advantage that would open markets globally for Indian suppliers.
It is appropriate to recall Gandhiji's famous words "Be the change that you want to see in the world".
May I also say that the world and posterity demand that Australia also seize this opportunity for reassessing its position and act resolutely on the basis of the scientific evidence and actual observations to chart out a new path of development. Indeed, Australia can be a major example for other developed countries and particularly for its neighbours in Asia that are emerging rapidly at various stages of development towards economic prosperity. A shared vision in this respect between India and Australia can have much greater global appeal and potential than if the two countries act in this regard entirely on their own.
I would, therefore, plead for a closer relationship of development issues with a sense of urgency. A churning of conventional thinking and reappraisal of past practices and policies is essential.
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great post on Global Warming...and I enjoyed the article you attached to it...it's about time everyone started to get involved in the environment!
Well done!
Take care,
Nick