Slow progress on climate negotiations

The Prime Minister, addressing the inaugural session of the Asia Regional Conference of Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) in Dhaka has expressed disappointment at the slow pace of climate negotiations, which in turn is delaying the disbursement of a US$30 billion fund pledged by the developed polluters for the poorest countries. The latter are having to bear the most brunt of climate change although their carbon footprints have not been significant. This fund was to help mitigate and adapt to the worst effects of climate change. The recent conference was an attempt at strengthening the position of the least developed countries (LDCs) and the small island developing states (SIDs) so that they could make themselves heard at the upcoming climate conference in Mexico in November this year.

Every eco-literate citizen would hope that the government would be consistent, competent and capable enough to negotiate on the people's behalf, institute laws and inculcate attitudes necessary for the protection and conservation of resources even while making the most of them ---- in other words, evolving or adopting a development model that makes both economic and environmental sense. The colossal problem of global warming and climate change is indeed one of the greatest challenges of this century. Bangladesh has, along with other vulnerable nations, asked for long-term cooperative action under the climate change framework ----- in terms of technology transfer and finance for adaptation and mitigation, a good part of which is likely to be realized through carbon trading.

Critics however believe carbon trading cannot halt global warming because it does not focus on the core problem, and that is, the continued extraction and consumption of fossil fuels --- coal, oil and gas. Instead, the most powerful governments and corporations are bent on 'buying' the space ( to pollute ) from low, or no-emission countries that are deemed to have lots of space to absorb the rich world's carbon load ! Thus the earth's carbon-cycling capacity is being turned into property to be bought or sold in the global market and 'the Earth's ability and capacity to support a climate conducive to life and human societies is now passing into the same corporate hands that are destroying the climate !'

The urgency needed to curb runaway GHG has indeed been effectively diluted by the politics and commerce of climate change. There must be a radical change in governance the world over, with equity within and among nations as core principles. Alternative development philosophers and activists have proposed many innovative ways of realizing such equity and climate justice, provided these are made to work by a truly democratic, transparent global authority that is ecologically educated and committed. A Greenhouse Development Rights Framework was proposed by some last year. Under this, a $20 a day in purchasing power parity threshold on income/emission was determined. People below this ---- meaning the vast majority, including much of the low-income, lower middle classes in poor countries ---- would have no emissions-reduction obligation. Those above the threshold would be obliged to undertake cuts according to their responsibility( for climate change) and capability (for mitigation and adaptation). They would also have to help the poor cope with the impacts of climate change. Another idea focused on high-emitting individuals across the world ---- 700 of them at least ---- who would have to cut emissions by 30 billion tonnes within the next 20 years. Giant corporations with their high carbon goods would also have to be taxed proportionately. These innovative ideas, deserve to be followed up seriously, if equity and justice in the coming climate change negotiations are to be realized.