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opinionAlso in this section:
Endara Hill, Father Gallego in his church and his community E. Jackson, Richardson's the best in a strong Democratic field Bernal, A disgraceful spectacle Sirias, A debt to a great teacher N. Jackson, Take back the night Silkwood, OAS Secretary General Insulza
G8 leaders not leading on climate change by Clarence E. Pilgrim A very shallow committment for the limiting of fossil fuel emmissions was given at the latest Group of Eight (G8) meeting which just ended. This is one of the most important international forums for dealing with global issues and it is a forum which has given rise to a lost opportunity. The annual summit of the leading industrialized nations was held in Heiligendamm, Germany. The G8 members are Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, the United States of America, Canada and Russia. The leaders agreed to take "strong and early" action as it relates to fuel emissions. They agreed to take into account the scientific knowledge as represented in the recent IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report, which stated quite clearly that global greenhouse gas emissions must stop rising, followed by what is hoped would be substantial global emission reductions. But if the IPCC report is being taken seriously then, "strong and early' action which the G8 says it would take, must include the immediate establishment of binding targets. Unfortunately their resolution does not include any binding targets! Simply announcing that the greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced in 2050 by 50 percent, does not go far enough. Climate change management leadership calls for taking positions which are intended to make a clear and decisive difference, particularly since the Kyoto protocol expires in five years. The G8 should have used this opportunity to send a clear message to the environment ministers working on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to give guidance on reaching specific goals to develop a new post-Kyoto Protocol regulations, during the upcoming Global Climate Change Conference. Any successor agreement must be adopted by 2009 so that at least three years of preparation for implementation can be given. But while the most influential countries continue to cover insubstantial grounds, and other major developing countries continue to decline responsibility for their actions, many ecosystems remain under constant threat, and in some cases are being reduced, depleted or eliminated due to climate change activities. Just recently a report by Conservation International found that 10 percent of the Caribbean's 62 spectacular reef-building corals are candidates for "critically endangered" designations. This conclusion is the result of 23 scientists, who in March 2007, analyzed data on tropical corals, sea grasses, mangroves and algae. It is believed that emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases, are endangering reefs in two ways: by increasing the incidence of "bleaching" events, and changing the carbonate ion (essential for building coral reefs) content in the chemistry of the ocean. With the clear and present danger of human activity persisting to damage the environment, there must be a consistent and proactive agenda to chart the way forward. The destruction of coral reefs is very bad news for Caribbean countries on so many levels. On the one hand, the viability and vitality of certain tourism activities are strongly dependant on the beautiful beaches and certain seaside attractions. On the other hand, the protection and growth of fishing grounds will be threatened as organisms which depends on the coral are being forced to either adapt to a new reality or vanish from that particular ecosystem. Strong Caribbean leadership in the wake of the G8 indecision, is required to continue to raise the level of awareness for immediate action, as we go from enviornmental challenge to the next, to save our Caribbean Sea and indeed the planet from the many dangers it faces.
The author is an educator and civil servant in Antigua & Barbuda
Also in this section:
Endara Hill, Father Gallego in his church and his community E. Jackson, Richardson's the best in a strong Democratic field Bernal, A disgraceful spectacle Sirias, A debt to a great teacher N. Jackson, Take back the night Silkwood, OAS Secretary General Insulza Unclassified Ads | Calendar | Outdoors | Dining | Science | Sports | Español | Front Page Archives | Wappin' Radio Show | Just Music
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