As Global Leaders "Compromise" on the Environment
Last week, as 197 countries agreed on terms to address climate change (at the UN COP26 summit), conflicting views included:
UN secretary-general António Guterres: "The approved texts are a compromise. They reflect the interests, the conditions, the contradictions and the state of political will in the world today."
US representative John Kerry: "You can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good … Not everyone gets the chance to make choices that affect an entire planet. We here today are privileged to do exactly that ... so that we can in fact guarantee to our children and grandchildren, next generations, that we did our job.”
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson: "I hope that we will look back on COP26 in Glasgow as the beginning of the end of climate change, and I will continue to work tirelessly towards that goal."
German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze: “The fossil fuel era is coming to an end, the energy transition is becoming the model worldwide."
India environment minister Bhupender Yadav: “How can anyone expect that developing countries make promises about phasing out coal and fossil fuels subsidies … Developing countries still have to deal with their poverty reduction agenda."
Environmental activist Greta Thunberg: “Now as COP26 is coming to an end, beware of a tsunami of greenwashing and media spin to somehow frame the outcome as “good”, “progress”, “hopeful” or “a step in the right direction."
OUR TAKE
As some participants view the terms of the agreement as "below expectations", the gathering highlighted the challenges of climate change and the disparate views on how to move forward.
Many concerns focused on how alternative energy and production approaches may stifle economic growth - it is likely that increases in air temperature, pollution, water levels will negatively affect countries, communities and businesses as well.
There is no “silver bullet” for improving the global environment - and market forces, rather than political leadership, will shape the road ahead – which will include changes in consumer behavior, adoption of innovative solutions, and adaption to a changing environment.