The impossible must become inevitable | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

The impossible must become inevitable

Hindustan Times | ByChris Huhne
Nov 27, 2011 10:13 PM IST

One year ago, amid a swirl of pessimism, the UN negotiations on climate change kicked off in Cancun. Following the disappointment at Copenhagen, it seemed that the principles of international negotiation itself were on trial.

One year ago, amid a swirl of pessimism, the UN negotiations on climate change kicked off in Cancun. Following the disappointment at Copenhagen, it seemed that the principles of international negotiation itself were on trial.

HT Image
HT Image

Expectations were low. But out of the acrimony arose a new consensus. For the first time, the world agreed to keep global warming to below 2 degrees. This is significant. The world doesn't agree that often. We have only a few truly global agreements - and just one global organisation. Next week, the UN will convene the next round of talks on a global climate treaty.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Unfortunately, for many countries, times could not be harder. Europe faces a currency crisis of constitutional proportions. The US is preoccupied with jobs and growth. West Asia and North Africa are consumed by questions of political reform.

Last year, our focus was to keep the show on the road: as long as you are talking, there are options. But time is running out. The window for meaningful action on climate change is now measured in years, not decades. The science tells us that we must bring down global emissions by 2020 or face terrible consequences.

In Cancun, we began to put in place a global architecture to monitor emissions and support developing countries in tackling climate change. But a more fundamental question went unanswered. Where are the international talks heading? Are we moving towards a legal agreement committing major emitters to binding emissions targets, or countries voluntarily pledging to take action?

My answer is simple: a global deal covering all major economies is an absolute necessity. Britain remains a steadfast advocate of a legally-binding agreement under the UN.

No major global problem has ever been resolved by relying on the power of political promises. This will not happen immediately. Durban won't be our eureka moment. But we can provide a clear signal that it's our objective. I know that not everyone - including India - shares our view. But with Durban a few days away, I believe it's important to explain why we are so concerned.

There is already a legally binding deal in place: the Kyoto Protocol. In 1997, 37 major economies, including Japan, Russia, Canada, Australia and the European Union (EU), formally committed to cutting emissions. The EU has already surpassed its Kyoto target.

The first Kyoto Protocol commitment period ends next year, and Japan, Russia and Canada have said they will not enter a second. The EU, on the other hand, wants just that. But if the EU alone signs up - without comparable commitments from major emitters including the US, or major emerging economies such as China, Brazil and India - then we won't have achieved much. The EU, responsible for just 12% of the world's emissions, would be left sitting alone in a global framework.

We urge major economies to commit now to a comprehensive and equitable legal framework, and to complete negotiations by 2015. That is not just what we want - it is what the vast majority of the developing world wants, especially vulnerable small islands and the poorest countries.

That is why, together with the rest of the EU, I have made it clear that I am keen to secure a second commitment period of Kyoto. But others must commit to the global legal framework the world needs. Ultimately, Durban is about the movement others make. Kyoto provides the basis of the rules we need to manage a destabilising climate. If we have learnt anything from the financial crisis, it is that clear rules implemented properly can prevent the toxic buildup of risk. That is why Durban must not be the end of Kyoto. Rather, it should signal our re-commitment to a cause.

This isn't the whim of a few governments. A survey of global firms found that 83% business leaders think that a multilateral agreement is needed to tackle climate change, but only 18% thought a deal was likely. Businesses want certainty; people want action. Only the global politics lags behind.

A commitment to commit to a new agreement will provide that certainty. But we need immediate action too. India has made impressive progress in reducing the intensity of its own domestic emissions. But the collective pledges currently on the table are not enough. In Durban, we should agree that we must close the gap. We can all identify more actions we can take now, and build momentum towards a major upward shift in ambition. We can also build on the system we use to measure and verify emissions cuts.

We must show leadership. This will not be an easy path. But I believe it is the only feasible way of achieving our objectives. Milton Friedman once said, "Our basic function is to keep good ideas alive until the politically impossible becomes the politically inevitable." That is a good description of the task that awaits in Durban.

Chris Huhne is Britain's minister for energy and climate change. The views expressed by the author are personal.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On