This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/8268022.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Climate change - where the centre leads | Climate change - where the centre leads |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| VIEWPOINT Jose Maria Figueres, Juan Mayrand Marina Silva | VIEWPOINT Jose Maria Figueres, Juan Mayrand Marina Silva |
| This week sees a series of meetings that could create the right conditions for achieving a new global treaty on climate change. In the Green Room this week, three senior political figures from Latin America - Jose Maria Figueres, Juan Mayr and Marina Silva - argue that middle-income nations such as theirs are leading the way. | This week sees a series of meetings that could create the right conditions for achieving a new global treaty on climate change. In the Green Room this week, three senior political figures from Latin America - Jose Maria Figueres, Juan Mayr and Marina Silva - argue that middle-income nations such as theirs are leading the way. |
| The industrialised world has failed to cut its own emissions sufficiently to grant either moral authority or practical advantage in this discussion | The industrialised world has failed to cut its own emissions sufficiently to grant either moral authority or practical advantage in this discussion |
| On 22 September, world leaders meet at the UN in New York for high-level talks on climate change - a summit followed two days later by a discussion at the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh on the global financial situation. | On 22 September, world leaders meet at the UN in New York for high-level talks on climate change - a summit followed two days later by a discussion at the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh on the global financial situation. |
| Moving out of the current financial crisis and addressing the problem of climate change can be jointly achieved by shifting the world towards a low carbon economy. | Moving out of the current financial crisis and addressing the problem of climate change can be jointly achieved by shifting the world towards a low carbon economy. |
| Analysis by Lord Stern and many others has shown that the economic case for taking measures now to mitigate and adapt to climate change is overwhelming. | Analysis by Lord Stern and many others has shown that the economic case for taking measures now to mitigate and adapt to climate change is overwhelming. |
| The meetings this month in New York and Pittsburgh should focus on this. | The meetings this month in New York and Pittsburgh should focus on this. |
| The importance of these meetings can hardly be overstated. Success at December's UN climate meeting in Copenhagen, where leaders will gather with the hope of reaching a new global agreement, will be determined in no small part on the progress made now. | The importance of these meetings can hardly be overstated. Success at December's UN climate meeting in Copenhagen, where leaders will gather with the hope of reaching a new global agreement, will be determined in no small part on the progress made now. |
| Transition elements | Transition elements |
| The scientific evidence is clear: the world cannot support the continuation of "business as usual". | The scientific evidence is clear: the world cannot support the continuation of "business as usual". |
| There is a growing consensus in the scientific community that the upper boundary of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels safe for our planet is 350 parts per million (ppm). | There is a growing consensus in the scientific community that the upper boundary of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels safe for our planet is 350 parts per million (ppm). |
| Leaders who pay lip service to the science of climate change - who tacitly recognise its devastating implications and then do nothing to halt its advance - are trafficking in hypocrisy | Leaders who pay lip service to the science of climate change - who tacitly recognise its devastating implications and then do nothing to halt its advance - are trafficking in hypocrisy |
| Today, as a direct result of human activities, it stands at 386 ppm. It is therefore essential that each nation shifts its economic development towards a low carbon model, one that can sustain the economy and the ecology of the planet. | Today, as a direct result of human activities, it stands at 386 ppm. It is therefore essential that each nation shifts its economic development towards a low carbon model, one that can sustain the economy and the ecology of the planet. |
| Transition to a low-carbon economic system will only happen if all countries co-operate; commitment from every developed and developing country is required. | Transition to a low-carbon economic system will only happen if all countries co-operate; commitment from every developed and developing country is required. |
| Industrialised nations, as the primary carbon emitters, will have to act urgently. Of equal importance is the need for developing nations to embark on a path of economic growth which "leap-frogs" carbon-intensive industrialisation. | Industrialised nations, as the primary carbon emitters, will have to act urgently. Of equal importance is the need for developing nations to embark on a path of economic growth which "leap-frogs" carbon-intensive industrialisation. |
| New maturity | New maturity |
| The dilemma of how to foster economic growth without worsening our climate is not a new problem. | The dilemma of how to foster economic growth without worsening our climate is not a new problem. |
| And it is not one that is limited to the developing world. Indeed, with the exception of a few, mostly European, countries, the industrialised world has failed to cut its own emissions sufficiently to grant either moral authority or practical advantage in this discussion. | And it is not one that is limited to the developing world. Indeed, with the exception of a few, mostly European, countries, the industrialised world has failed to cut its own emissions sufficiently to grant either moral authority or practical advantage in this discussion. |
| While some nations are in fact taking action - Denmark for example has raised its GDP while lowering carbon emissions and energy consumption - there are many that are only prepared to make weak commitments, which are well below the levels required. | While some nations are in fact taking action - Denmark for example has raised its GDP while lowering carbon emissions and energy consumption - there are many that are only prepared to make weak commitments, which are well below the levels required. |
| December's UN climate summit presents a real opportunity for the negotiators from 192 nations to act in the global interest. | December's UN climate summit presents a real opportunity for the negotiators from 192 nations to act in the global interest. |
| Climate change brings increased flood risk to some poor countries | Climate change brings increased flood risk to some poor countries |
| But if such changes prove challenging for the world's wealthiest countries, imagine the difficulty they pose for economies still reaching maturity. | But if such changes prove challenging for the world's wealthiest countries, imagine the difficulty they pose for economies still reaching maturity. |
| In this light, it is important to note that nations such as our own are also taking action, and our determination is unshakable. | In this light, it is important to note that nations such as our own are also taking action, and our determination is unshakable. |
| Plans have been put in place to lower emissions, forgo unsustainable practices and make a transition to new clean energy technologies. | Plans have been put in place to lower emissions, forgo unsustainable practices and make a transition to new clean energy technologies. |
| For example, Costa Rica's climate change plan calls for a transition to carbon neutrality by 2021 - an ambitious but achievable programme. | For example, Costa Rica's climate change plan calls for a transition to carbon neutrality by 2021 - an ambitious but achievable programme. |
| Brazil plans to decrease emissions from deforestation - its main source of greenhouse gas emissions - by 80% before 2020, and plans to establish a target to reduce all emissions in the coming months. | Brazil plans to decrease emissions from deforestation - its main source of greenhouse gas emissions - by 80% before 2020, and plans to establish a target to reduce all emissions in the coming months. |
| Other examples include the "Long-Term Mitigation Scenario" published by South Africa in 2008, and plans by the Maldives and other island nations to achieve carbon neutrality in the mid-term. | Other examples include the "Long-Term Mitigation Scenario" published by South Africa in 2008, and plans by the Maldives and other island nations to achieve carbon neutrality in the mid-term. |
| South Korea is investing approximately 80% of its fiscal stimulus package in climate-related measures. | South Korea is investing approximately 80% of its fiscal stimulus package in climate-related measures. |
| Those commitments are significantly higher than most of what is being proposed by developed nations. | Those commitments are significantly higher than most of what is being proposed by developed nations. |
| Four elements | Four elements |
| The challenge is straightforward: how to curb greenhouse gas emissions and sustain economic prosperity at the same time. | The challenge is straightforward: how to curb greenhouse gas emissions and sustain economic prosperity at the same time. |
| To secure a practical pathway to a clean energy economy - one that is measured in both higher incomes and a more stable climate - we must strike a new partnership between developed and developing countries. | To secure a practical pathway to a clean energy economy - one that is measured in both higher incomes and a more stable climate - we must strike a new partnership between developed and developing countries. |
| There are four elements to emphasise: | There are four elements to emphasise: |
|
|
| And here's what needs to be said. | And here's what needs to be said. |
| A new partnership supported by substantial investments and political leadership is the only way to marshal the political consensus required to make genuine progress on climate change. | A new partnership supported by substantial investments and political leadership is the only way to marshal the political consensus required to make genuine progress on climate change. |
| It's fair for developed countries to require more clarity of commitment from developing nations - even if they are voluntary commitments. | It's fair for developed countries to require more clarity of commitment from developing nations - even if they are voluntary commitments. |
| However, partnerships run both ways, and it is equally fair for developing countries to expect developed nations to make more ambitious commitments than they have so far been prepared to do. | However, partnerships run both ways, and it is equally fair for developing countries to expect developed nations to make more ambitious commitments than they have so far been prepared to do. |
| For the developed world, the transition to a new clean energy economy will create jobs and growth, mitigating the current recession and laying the pathway for economic and environmental recovery. | For the developed world, the transition to a new clean energy economy will create jobs and growth, mitigating the current recession and laying the pathway for economic and environmental recovery. |
| For the developing world, it is an opportunity to progress towards a sustainable economic model, avoiding climate-damaging industrialisation in the process. This will create further prospects for expansion and job growth. | For the developing world, it is an opportunity to progress towards a sustainable economic model, avoiding climate-damaging industrialisation in the process. This will create further prospects for expansion and job growth. |
| The time has come for a fair, binding and ambitious climate change agreement and concrete action by all nations. | The time has come for a fair, binding and ambitious climate change agreement and concrete action by all nations. |
| That's why this week meetings are so important. And that's the prism through which their success should be evaluated. | That's why this week meetings are so important. And that's the prism through which their success should be evaluated. |
| Jose Maria Figueres is a former President of Costa Rica, Juan Mayr is a former Environment Minister of Colombia and Marina Silva is a former Environment Minister of Brazil | Jose Maria Figueres is a former President of Costa Rica, Juan Mayr is a former Environment Minister of Colombia and Marina Silva is a former Environment Minister of Brazil |
| The Green Room is a series of opinion articles on environmental topics running weekly on the BBC News website | The Green Room is a series of opinion articles on environmental topics running weekly on the BBC News website |
| Do you agree with the writers? Is a true partnership between countries with different levels of development possible on this issue? Are middle-income nations such as Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica and South Korea showing the way? Can greenhouse gas emissions be cut significantly without affecting wealth and growth? | Do you agree with the writers? Is a true partnership between countries with different levels of development possible on this issue? Are middle-income nations such as Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica and South Korea showing the way? Can greenhouse gas emissions be cut significantly without affecting wealth and growth? |
| Thank you for demonstrating the courage of forthright communication. The first step to successfully managing our Dear Mother Earth's environment is the speaking and listening to open and un-biased truths. In order for Countries to move ahead safely and with passion toward a sustainable environmental agenda, there must be a financial shift within each economy. In the Western World financing of Projects by those who can see the path of the future is stagnated by the banking system. Governments need a new type of agency with a new set of idealisms. There are many, such as myself, who have struggled for years to build the future. The banks will not get involved unless it becomes a proven major winner; and then they want to control it for themselves. The Governments require an agency with the power to cross current agency lines, to invest in these new ideas. I state this because new ideas can not fall within the status of the old structure if they are indeed new. This being the case, the old government structures are not able to deal with the new ideas; which therefore become lost. The biggest asset available to assist the development of a new World economy is the mind trust of the inventors which exists within each Country. If these small inventors, of what is possible in the future are able to reveal their dreams; the new reality will be revealed much sooner. Thank you for the work you have done in the past and your stand toward the creation of a better future.Barrie Wamboldt, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada | |
| No i do not agree, the science is anything but clear on the MMCC issue. In fact, the more research i do, the less credible MMCC becomes. Climate is changing, yes, are we responsible? NO. The IPCC have been PROVED wrong- so why are we still pushing this agenda? (note, not the same as saying we shouldn't be 'green' and recycle/use renewables etc).Jon, cambridge | |
| I work for a major world wide company. Years ago they stopped 98% of a travel for business. All meetings and conferences are now done using multi media. As well every single aspect of the business has been examined and changed to use less energy. Our company's carbon footprint is now considerable smaller than it was just a few years ago. The governments and environmentalists on the other hand are demanding more and more money from everyone. Every day they are introducing a new environmental tax. What do they do with this money? They fly, the meet, they consume. The result is they are using the issue for their own benefit and do not care at all about the environment. It is just another way to steal from the productive members of society. When governments and environmentalists say no more flying, no more fancy hotels, no fancy meals, no more consumption paid for using environmental tax, then I will believe they care. Until then I and most others just believe the whole environmental issue is just another excuse for governments to steal more money from us.Dave Richardson, Ottawa Canada | |
| I do not agree -from what i can gather from extensive reading on the subject it would be hard to find a reputable sientist who supports this nonsense who is not dependent on grants,jobs,or politics for their support. it is a dream for politicians who see a way to increase taxes and control over the public. i am sure you know this and your support is criminal to say the least, are you really willing to destroy the economy of the industrial and developed world for your selfish gain? you should be ashamedronald b. matthews, tobermory canada | |
| Send us your comments using the form below: | Send us your comments using the form below: |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |