Moving the climate change debate forward
Posted by Yael Rosenfeld on 28/05/10 15:00 PM
Earlier today I went to hear what some of the world’s leading experts have to say about how to fix the global negotiations on climate change.
We’re currently hosting a series of events with the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and Christian Aid – trying to get to grips with the international politics of climate change, and how we can move forward.
The speakers today were: Vice Yu, policy director in the South Center, a think-tank of developing countries (who participated from Geneva via video-conference, to avoid emissions from travelling); Linda Yeuh, an economist from Oxford University; Farhana Yamin, who was legal advisor to the Alliance of Small Island States; and Steve Rayner, Professor of Science and Civilization at Oxford University. It was chaired by Julian Rush from Channel 4 news.
They all agreed on a few things: firstly, that climate change is a huge threat and action is needed urgently. They also all agreed that developing the technologies to enable large-scale use of renewable energy, and sharing those technologies, is vital.
Linda Yeuh, Vice Yu and Farhana Yamin are clear that, despite the setback in Copenhagen, a legally binding treaty to address climate change is still required, and the UNFCCC is the only forum where it can happen.
Steve Rayner disagreed about the necessity of an all-encompassing treaty and suggested the focus should be on adaptation and modernising energy systems, and starting from the bottom up.
Though it was clear we’re still a long way from a coordinated action, the discussion today made me feel that in the coming months – and in December at Cancun, the next global climate change summit – there is a chance to progress on important issues. For instance we hope to see some agreement at Cancun on helping vulnerable countries adapt to climate change.
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