Doha: Islands on Climate Change

Shiva, a deity in Hinduism known as the god of destruction, is also known to bring transformation and balance. His role is not only to create destruction but to restore balance to a situation; whether it be physical or emotional, and transform this situation that was imperfect. Through this belief, it is evident that Shiva does not destroy arbitrarily, but rather purposefully and in some ways, constructively in order to create beneficial change.

Shiva’s purpose in the world makes me think of our path that we pave towards environmental degradation. Sadly, after the conferences in Doha a few weeks ago, it seems that our leaders continue to weave our destination by inaction. The question is: will we continue down this path of environmental degradation to a point of re creation of our planet, or will we be lead to irreversible damages?

The hopes for the Doha conference would that our leaders would finally go beyond merely recognizing the climate change is happening and that there are limits to our environment. The hopes were that our leaders would finally be at the stage to take bold action on implementation measures and enforcement.

“This conference comes in the wake of disasters that offered an alarming glimpse at what life on a warming planet looks like. A failure to build on the progress we have made at this critical juncture could be a set back from which we may never recover. If hard decisions to dramatically cut emissions are not made now, developing countries will be forced to confront adaptation and damage on a previously unimaginable scale.”

This statement comes from the AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States) in which represent many of the island nations that will and are being dramatically affected by climate change.

But for many, such as AOSIS, the hopes were dashed by the end of the Doha Climate Change Conference, the anticipation surrounding the outcomes of the conference make me question just how far we have gone or perhaps how far we have digressed. As more GHG are emitted into our atmosphere, drastic changes in weather, sea level rises and more, how can we possibly be creating a better future through the destruction? I remain hopeful, but critical of the actual road that we have taken.

It has become more and more evident the two players to this game. On one hand we have the so-called ‘developed’ countries that will now pay the developing countries in order to help build up infrastructure to fight climate change. This however should be looked at quite critically. This money that will go to developing countries vulnerable to climate change such as island nations will go to the development of preventative actions and preparedness programs, however does not minimize the fact that the developing countries are still the largest emitters of GHG. To put it bluntly what the developing countries are doing are paying their “eco-sins” and putting a band-aid on a broken leg.

Tensions and emotions ran high when it came to many of the island nations. One of such from the Philippines envoy, Nade­rev Sano.

“Open your eyes to the stark reality we face. It’s about what is demanded by 7 billion people. No more delays. No more excuses. Let Doha be remembered as the place where we found the political will to turn things around.”

His plea I believe was one that underlined the failure of the Doha conference to truly bring relief and action to climate change. Although we can continue to hope for the best outcomes from these conferences, I don’t believe that we should wait around for them to create change.

The fight against climate change has begun, and not in the conference halls of Doha nor Kyoto, but within classrooms, campaigns and on the streets. We have to remember that when the people lead, the leaders will follow, and coming from small islands in the middle of the Pacific; vulnerable of sea level rise, natural disasters such as tsunamis and earthquakes; it will take these island communities to join together in order to make the push needed to bring our leaders into action.

Because if not, do we really want to sit around and wait to see if our climate change experts were right in their predictions?

Comments Off on Doha: Islands on Climate Change / 18 Dec 2012 por Ivory McClintock Kealani Pan
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