A quick Q&A with Kofi Annan
Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has been calling for a “just and fair” deal on climate change at Copenhagen, but what does that actually mean? Why should Australia be part of a global agreement? What role do developing nations have in this?
I asked these and other questions to Mr Annan, now president of the Global Humanitarian Forum. Here’s a little teaser from the Q&A. A full version will appear tomorrow.
In your home country of Ghana, there have been reports that climate change is threatening the future of the cocoa industry and predictions of increased drought, floods and excessive heat. How can poorer countries like Ghana prepare for the future and should the “west” help? And is it time for major “developing” countries such as India and China to commit to a common global future?
Every country, regardless of whether it is Ghana, Australia or China, needs to do its part in accordance with its capacities and historic responsibilities. Industrialized countries such as the United States and Australia must naturally take the lead in reducing emissions and supporting others in following suit, but developing countries like India or China also have an increasing responsibility to do so as their economies continue to grow.
Unfortunately, it is the poorest and least responsible that will have to bear the brunt of the climate challenge as rising temperatures exacerbate poverty, hunger and vulnerability to disease for billions of people.
As I have said before, they need both immediate help to strengthen their climate resilience as well as long-term support to adapt to climate impacts, reduce deforestation, and pursue low-emissions, clean energy growth.
The bottom line is clear. The climate cannot be “fixed” in one country or continent and not in another. Climate change does not respect national borders. We are all in the same boat; a hole at one end will sink us all.
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