U.S. backs down on environmental responsibilities

April 19, 2008

Sixteen countries which make part of the strongest economies in the world met in Paris last Thursday to discuss tactics to tackle the climate change at the III Major Emitters Meeting (MEM).

Since the first MEM on September of 2007 and the second at Hawaii attained mainly by experts on January of 2008 that it was common sense that by the third MEM countries should have developed projects and plans to reduce greenhouse gases emissions.

Unfortunately the Bush organization which initiated the MEM and that represents the country that most has contributed for greenhouse gases emission was the one that most failed at the talks.

Bush, having completely missed or forgotten the reports by the Noble Prize winning IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) that announced the need for reductions of the global emission within the next 10 years at the latest, made a useless speech stating that the US would only be able to start reducing their emission until 2025 which means that the most polluting country since ever will continue to damage the environment just the same way for the next 15 years.

On this very shameful speech Bush also said that the US may cut down emissions after 2025 if coal can be made clean and nuclear power is safe reflecting the lack of strategies or intentions to reduce greenhouse emissions even after 2025.

There’s still a chance for the US citizens to try to diminish the increasing damage made to the environment if McCain, Obama or Clinton is elected because they all support binding emissions reductions for the whole US economy. If the one of them gets elected and sticks to his word, there will be a chance to make things right at the next global climate agreement happening at Copenhagen on 2009.

Let’s hope that for the next MEM world leaders take into consideration the statement made by the Noble Peace Prize Laureate, Desmond Tutu were he reminds rich world leaders of their responsibility:

“Many rich world leaders have not, so far, responded to the climate crisis with the urgency required. Cushioned and cosseted, they have had the luxury of closing their minds to the real impact of what is happening in the fragile and precious atmosphere that surrounds the planet we live on.

“I wonder how much more anxious they might be, if they depended on the cycle of mother nature to feed their families. How much greater would their concerns be if they lived in slums and townships, in mud houses, or shelters made of plastic bags? In large parts of sub-Saharan Africa, this is a reality. The poor, the vulnerable and the hungry are exposed to the harsh edge of climate change every day of their lives. …

“At the Major Economies Meeting in Paris, developed countries must commit to immediate action against climate change. The United Nations need to deliver an action plan to save the planet at the climate change conference in 2009. There is no time to be distracted from the urgent task to deliver this global rescue plan. The world is watching, and those who are feeling the impacts of climate change today, are expecting decisive action - now.”

Actions must be taken at the next global climate agreement so that the most vulnerable and poor nations, that were the ones that less polluted the planet aren’t badly affected by the climate changes.

Let’s expect that the majority of the people realize the urgency for an increase of awareness on this subject and demand their leaders to have positive actions into decreasing global greenhouse gases emissions.

Greenpeace activists project a message to US President George Bush on the Washington Monument.

© Greenpeace / Bill Auth

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