169. As far as the protection of biodiversity and issues related to
desertification are concerned, progress has been far less significant.
With regard to climate change, the advances have been regrettably few.
Reducing greenhouse gases requires honesty, courage and responsibility,
above all on the part of those countries which are more powerful and
pollute the most. The Conference of the United Nations on Sustainable
Development, “Rio+20” (Rio de Janeiro 2012), issued a wide-ranging but
ineffectual outcome document. International negotiations cannot make
significant progress due to positions taken by countries which place
their national interests above the global common good. Those who will
have to suffer the consequences of what we are trying to hide will not
forget this failure of conscience and responsibility. Even as this
Encyclical was being prepared, the debate was intensifying. We believers
cannot fail to ask God for a positive outcome to the present
discussions, so that future generations will not have to suffer the
effects of our ill-advised delays.
The countries, such as the USA, that have ignored all the scientific findings and the responsibility that follows such information places the good of it's own people in peril as well as that of the global community.
170. Some strategies for lowering pollutant gas emissions call for the internationalization of environmental costs, which would risk imposing on countries with fewer resources burdensome commitments to reducing emissions comparable to those of the more industrialized countries. Imposing such measures penalizes those countries most in need of development. A further injustice is perpetrated under the guise of protecting the environment. Here also, the poor end up paying the price. Furthermore, since the effects of climate change will be felt for a long time to come, even if stringent measures are taken now, some countries with scarce resources will require assistance in adapting to the effects already being produced, which affect their economies. In this context, there is a need for common and differentiated responsibilities. As the bishops of Bolivia have stated, “the countries which have benefited from a high degree of industrialization, at the cost of enormous emissions of greenhouse gases, have a greater responsibility for providing a solution to the problems they have caused”.[127]
I agree the First World causes a great deal of problems for the Third World when it comes to global warming. There is no doubt the First World are the greatest offenders and the poor pay the highest price. Yet, we have seen greatest of the less wealthy countries. My favorite example is:
Wangari Maathai (click here) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. In its citation,
the Norwegian Nobel Committee noted Professor Maathai’s contribution to
“sustainable development, democracy and peace.” The Committee further
stated that Professor Maathai “stands at the front of the fight to
promote ecologically viable social, economic and cultural development in
Kenya and in Africa....
She came to mind when I realized a very precious lion had been killed. The people of this region of the world pride themselves for protecting the precious aspects of Earth for future generations. But, she found a way. In some ways, she had an easier path than those of up in the USA where corporations make it impossible at times to change the deadly paradigm. So, while the First World should be the sorriest for their excesses of pollution of greenhouse gases, the Third World has produced incredible leadership in conservation and environmental protection.
171. The strategy of buying and selling “carbon credits” can lead to a new form of speculation which would not help reduce the emission of polluting gases worldwide. This system seems to provide a quick and easy solution under the guise of a certain commitment to the environment, but in no way does it allow for the radical change which present circumstances require. Rather, it may simply become a ploy which permits maintaining the excessive consumption of some countries and sectors.
I agree. Making up a Wall Street solution based in Wall Street principles that delivered the Climate Crisis as we know it today is hideous. The Chicago Climate Exchange (click here) is not completely incompetent or worthless. It has served to support some efforts, but, it is mostly Wall Street including derivatives and hedge funds.
We're helping shape the future of markets around the world. (click here) ICE Futures Europe is home to futures and options contracts for crude and refined oil, interest rates, equity derivatives, natural gas, power, coal, emissions and soft commodities. So, whether you're hedging against the future cost of jet fuel, petrol/gas prices at the pump, a change in interest rates or the cost of electricity, our markets provide a cost-efficient way to support your objectives.
The original purpose was to create a place where companies and people can come to purchase carbon credits to support rainforests and carbon sinks such as coral reefs. Considering the condition of rainforests and coral reefs there is little to no evidence of measures to protect them past that of governments.
172. For poor countries, the priorities must be to eliminate extreme poverty and to promote the social development of their people. At the same time, they need to acknowledge the scandalous level of consumption in some privileged sectors of their population and to combat corruption more effectively. They are likewise bound to develop less polluting forms of energy production, but to do so they require the help of countries which have experienced great growth at the cost of the ongoing pollution of the planet. Taking advantage of abundant solar energy will require the establishment of mechanisms and subsidies which allow developing countries access to technology transfer, technical assistance and financial resources, but in a way which respects their concrete situations, since “the compatibility of [infrastructures] with the context for which they have been designed is not always adequately assessed”.[128] The costs of this would be low, compared to the risks of climate change. In any event, these are primarily ethical decisions, rooted in solidarity between all peoples.
The countries, such as the USA, that have ignored all the scientific findings and the responsibility that follows such information places the good of it's own people in peril as well as that of the global community.
170. Some strategies for lowering pollutant gas emissions call for the internationalization of environmental costs, which would risk imposing on countries with fewer resources burdensome commitments to reducing emissions comparable to those of the more industrialized countries. Imposing such measures penalizes those countries most in need of development. A further injustice is perpetrated under the guise of protecting the environment. Here also, the poor end up paying the price. Furthermore, since the effects of climate change will be felt for a long time to come, even if stringent measures are taken now, some countries with scarce resources will require assistance in adapting to the effects already being produced, which affect their economies. In this context, there is a need for common and differentiated responsibilities. As the bishops of Bolivia have stated, “the countries which have benefited from a high degree of industrialization, at the cost of enormous emissions of greenhouse gases, have a greater responsibility for providing a solution to the problems they have caused”.[127]
I agree the First World causes a great deal of problems for the Third World when it comes to global warming. There is no doubt the First World are the greatest offenders and the poor pay the highest price. Yet, we have seen greatest of the less wealthy countries. My favorite example is:
She came to mind when I realized a very precious lion had been killed. The people of this region of the world pride themselves for protecting the precious aspects of Earth for future generations. But, she found a way. In some ways, she had an easier path than those of up in the USA where corporations make it impossible at times to change the deadly paradigm. So, while the First World should be the sorriest for their excesses of pollution of greenhouse gases, the Third World has produced incredible leadership in conservation and environmental protection.
171. The strategy of buying and selling “carbon credits” can lead to a new form of speculation which would not help reduce the emission of polluting gases worldwide. This system seems to provide a quick and easy solution under the guise of a certain commitment to the environment, but in no way does it allow for the radical change which present circumstances require. Rather, it may simply become a ploy which permits maintaining the excessive consumption of some countries and sectors.
I agree. Making up a Wall Street solution based in Wall Street principles that delivered the Climate Crisis as we know it today is hideous. The Chicago Climate Exchange (click here) is not completely incompetent or worthless. It has served to support some efforts, but, it is mostly Wall Street including derivatives and hedge funds.
We're helping shape the future of markets around the world. (click here) ICE Futures Europe is home to futures and options contracts for crude and refined oil, interest rates, equity derivatives, natural gas, power, coal, emissions and soft commodities. So, whether you're hedging against the future cost of jet fuel, petrol/gas prices at the pump, a change in interest rates or the cost of electricity, our markets provide a cost-efficient way to support your objectives.
The original purpose was to create a place where companies and people can come to purchase carbon credits to support rainforests and carbon sinks such as coral reefs. Considering the condition of rainforests and coral reefs there is little to no evidence of measures to protect them past that of governments.
172. For poor countries, the priorities must be to eliminate extreme poverty and to promote the social development of their people. At the same time, they need to acknowledge the scandalous level of consumption in some privileged sectors of their population and to combat corruption more effectively. They are likewise bound to develop less polluting forms of energy production, but to do so they require the help of countries which have experienced great growth at the cost of the ongoing pollution of the planet. Taking advantage of abundant solar energy will require the establishment of mechanisms and subsidies which allow developing countries access to technology transfer, technical assistance and financial resources, but in a way which respects their concrete situations, since “the compatibility of [infrastructures] with the context for which they have been designed is not always adequately assessed”.[128] The costs of this would be low, compared to the risks of climate change. In any event, these are primarily ethical decisions, rooted in solidarity between all peoples.
