From a man that has witnessed tragedy after tragedy in the world, brings a much needed focus to the climate crisis.
Former Secretary Annan has no reason to seek the movement of a global community. He is not running elections.
Op-Ed Contributor
Climate Crisis: Who Will Act? (click here)
By KOFI ANNAN
Published: November 24, 2013
Geneva — The last-minute deal at the United Nations Climate Conference in Warsaw keeps hopes for a comprehensive successor agreement to the 1997 Kyoto protocol alive. But let us be clear: Much more decisive action will be needed if we are to stand any chance at fending off the dangers of climate change.
We now have just one more shot, next year in Peru, to make more substantive progress toward a successor agreement before the crucial 2015 Paris conference. Even before then, it will be crucial for governments to put aside narrow national interests in order to ensure that the pledges made at the 2009 Copenhagen conference — to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to pre-industrial levels — are met....
...What now? If governments are unwilling to lead when leadership is required, people must. We need a global grass-roots movement that tackles climate change and its fallout. In Australia, one initiative aims at getting one million women to take small steps in their everyday lives to cut emissions. In India, there is a project to bring solar energy to slums, which also creates green jobs. In Guatemala, women farmers are planting trees to sequester carbon and improve cultivation techniques. In Mexico, the “ecocasa” program is unlocking funds to build energy-efficient housing....
These are actions by far less fortunate countries than the USA, although some would say they are more fortunate in their ability to act to end the impending climate danger. These nations take it on themselves to act when the First World is mired in financial interests by 1% of their populations.
One has to ask when reflecting on their First World country where the morality in the world sincerely exists and why it is not the leadership of the most wealthy.
Former Secretary Annan has no reason to seek the movement of a global community. He is not running elections.
Op-Ed ContributorClimate Crisis: Who Will Act? (click here)
By KOFI ANNAN
Published: November 24, 2013
Geneva — The last-minute deal at the United Nations Climate Conference in Warsaw keeps hopes for a comprehensive successor agreement to the 1997 Kyoto protocol alive. But let us be clear: Much more decisive action will be needed if we are to stand any chance at fending off the dangers of climate change.
We now have just one more shot, next year in Peru, to make more substantive progress toward a successor agreement before the crucial 2015 Paris conference. Even before then, it will be crucial for governments to put aside narrow national interests in order to ensure that the pledges made at the 2009 Copenhagen conference — to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to pre-industrial levels — are met....
...What now? If governments are unwilling to lead when leadership is required, people must. We need a global grass-roots movement that tackles climate change and its fallout. In Australia, one initiative aims at getting one million women to take small steps in their everyday lives to cut emissions. In India, there is a project to bring solar energy to slums, which also creates green jobs. In Guatemala, women farmers are planting trees to sequester carbon and improve cultivation techniques. In Mexico, the “ecocasa” program is unlocking funds to build energy-efficient housing....
These are actions by far less fortunate countries than the USA, although some would say they are more fortunate in their ability to act to end the impending climate danger. These nations take it on themselves to act when the First World is mired in financial interests by 1% of their populations.
One has to ask when reflecting on their First World country where the morality in the world sincerely exists and why it is not the leadership of the most wealthy.
