There are a mind-numbing amount of press conferences held every single day here at the UN climate conference in Bali. You could spend the entire day doing nothing but going from one press conference to another.
Today there were 10 different press conferences to choose from. They touched on everything from green jobs to deforestation to domestic legislation.
I try to go to at least one press conference per day. I'm less interested in the content of the press conference and more interested in the questions the journalists are asking. It's a good way to find out what's generating a buzz in Bali.
The press conference I went to today was on how climate change will affect developing countries. The speakers talked about how the most severe impacts of climate change will be felt by poor nations. Not only will developing countries suffer the worst effects of a warming world but they will also be least able to cope with the impacts.
The speakers emphasized that because developed countries are largely responsible for the problem of climate change, they should take the lead in tackling it.
It's the foundation the Kyoto Protocol was built upon.
In Bali, one of the things delegates have to agree on is a framework for an adaptation fund to help developing countries adapt to climate changes. Delegates also have to agree on a framework for technology cooperation to help developing countries use clean technologies.
Equity is a big part of international climate change negotiations. But on this issue, Canada is the bad guy. Prime Minister Stephen Harper called the Kyoto Protocol a "mistake" because it did not assign targets to developing countries, such as China and India.
He is demanding that "binding, absolute targets" be imposed on all countries or none. It's an extremely unjust position.
You can't ask poorer nations to shoulder the burden and do just as much as wealthy nations, especially when we caused the problem.
Wealthy countries can afford to develop the technologies that will help us cut our emissions. Without cooperation, technology and incentives, developing countries will be left to make the same mistakes that were made in rich countries.
Besides, countries like China and India are included in the Kyoto Protocol. Developing countries were exempt from reductions in the first phase of the Protocol but they will begin to take on commitments in the second phase, which begins after 2012.
The whole thing reminded me of an episode of the West Wing in which the fictional American President Bartlet lectured his Commerce Secretary about a global warming treaty: "I think what's lunacy is a nation of SUVs telling a nation of bicycles that they have to change the way they live before we'll agree to do something about greenhouse emissions."
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Dan Levay
You state that "wealthy countries can afford to develop the technologies that will help us cut our emissions" and "'binding, absolute targets' be imposed on all countries or none, It's an extremely unjust position." While I myself do not agree with Canada's undermining of the Kyoto Protocol and the meetings in Bali I do feel in this aspect they are correct. You cannot reserve coutnries like China and India to develop with high-emission industries when they are aware of the consequences and have the ability to develop otherwise, simply put; this is about economic success above all else. This is the true problem with the Kyoto Protocol and the general meetings in Bali, people have not accepted that while economic success is important, it can (and should) be subdued in the interest of the environment without serious problems occurring for the quality of life for the developing countries.
One question to ask is what happens when India and China have developed? How long and at how much more cost would it take to then cut emissions and develop a low-emission economy?
Viking
Well said Dan. Although I think it's OK to say that India and China are developed. They've both launched satellites into orbit, with China launching humans. That's something an undeveloped country sure shouldn't be able to.
lora bruncke
Don't forget before we had rapmant consumerism China and India were following a different path.
Then big business found almost free oil in the 70's.
After that we got flooded with MADE IN CHINA because there were no rules and no unions over there - just lots of profits for the capitalistic machines!
Bush and Harper need to stand up as men and admit they are the biggest polluters and that their people are willing to reduce and reuse.
We are also willing to look at solar, wind, public transit, better agriculture, etc.
We do not need all that stuff that is made in China. Most of it is used once and filed in the landfill.
Maybe they will go back to their more peaceful life.
Maybe we can too!
For our children!!
Lora