In attendance at the meeting is Greenpeace China's Sze Ping Lo who challenged world leaders to strengthen the Kyoto Protocol, the one global agreement to combat climate change. In addressing the United Nations, Sze Ping Lo beckoned for world leaders to engage in an energy revolution.
An Energy Revolution
The time to act is now. We have all the technology we need to start the job of preventing dangerous climate change. It's high time that world leaders replace talking about combating global warming-with real action before it's too late.
To prevent an apocalyptic future, we need an energy revolution that delivers us renewable energies and increased energy efficiencies. We can no longer invest in dangerous nuclear power or dirty coal (did you know that coal burning produces carbon dioxide-the lead cause of global warming).
Making Strides in China
With a population hovering around 1.3 billion it's no surprise that China is the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world. Sze Ping Lo understands that many point to China to act first to combat global warming, and in fact, they are well ahead of the United States. He is proud to point out that China has committed to a renewable energy target of 15% by 2020. Yet, China should have bigger ambitions to develop wind and solar energies. In fact, China has the capacity to develop 118GW of wind power and 25GW of solar PV power by 2020. In 2002 China signed onto the Kyoto Protocol.
The Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement (negotiated in 1997) by which industrialized nations have committed to combating global warming by substantially reducing their emissions of greenhouse gases by 2012. While more than 160 countries have signed onto the agreement, disappointingly the United States has not.
Bali Mandate
The next meeting on climate change negotiations under the Kyoto Protocol will take place on the island of Bali in December. Greenpeace is pushing for world leaders to strengthen the Kyoto Protocol at these meetings. Industrialized countries must begin the process of negotiating emissions reductions of 30% by 2020, and at least 80% by 2050 in order to prevent climate chaos. This is what the best and latest science tells us is needed now to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.
The meetings in Bali must advance a negotiating agenda, a Bali Mandate, to combat climate change on all fronts, including adaptation, mitigation, clean technologies, deforestation and resource mobilization. All countries must do what they can to reach agreement by 2009, and to have it in force at the end of the current Kyoto Protocol commitment period at the end of 2012.
The U.S. Stands Alone
While scientists and economists are raising alarm bells about the imminent dangers stemming from global warming, the United States continues to ignore them. If it's not enough to have the United States snub the world by not signing the Kyoto Protocol-President Bush is hosting a Major Emitters Meeting in Washington, DC later this week.
While we don't know the exact details of this meeting, we have a sneaking suspicion that it has to do with more rhetoric and President Bush's plan to develop an alternative to the Kyoto process, focusing on voluntary rather than binding targets. Actions speak louder than words, and President Bush's absence at today's United Nations Climate Meeting speaks volumes.
If 82% of Americans feel that global warming exists, then who is calling the shots when it comes to the America's future-the U.S. citizens or the powerful few who stand to profit from the continued consumption of global warming causing fossil fuels?
Greenpeace will stand strong to ensure that the people's message is seen through the smoke and mirrors of the Emitters meeting - the U.S. must sign the Kyoto Protocol and join the global efforts on combating global warming.
Above photo is UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon with Greenpeace. From left to right: Daniel Mittler, Athena Ronquillo, Gerd Leipold, Ban Ki-moon, Jamie Choi and John Passacantando.
CREDIT: © UN Photo/Mark Garten