Thought for the Week: A call to conscience
Lindsey Fielder Cook writes from Paris
I write from Paris, and the international climate change conference, known as the Conference of Parties, or COP21. There are Quakers here from all over the world!
The COP21 is an historic chance to adopt a universal climate change agreement applicable to all countries. This is an essential move as current, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would lead us to a +4˚C global mean surface temperature rise above pre-industrial times. This rate of rise would threaten all eco-systems, freshwater supplies, our ability to grow food and work outdoors. Yet this does not have to happen. There is still time to avoid catastrophic climate change, but not much time.
The most challenging issues include: how to fairly implement GHG emission reductions between countries (differentiation and historic responsibility); clear commitments from developed countries on finance and other forms of support to developing countries; human rights language inclusion; implementation of compensation (called ‘loss and damage’) to countries already facing severe effects; choice of 1.5˚C or 2˚C rise (above pre-industrial times) as a target; and the extent to which an agreement is legally binding. Members of the European Union (EU) committed to legally binding targets under the Kyoto Protocol, and surpassed their target. The EU seeks a strong, legally binding agreement, as do many developing countries, but the United States (fearing congressional rejection) and a number of powerful developing countries seek an agreement which is more voluntary in nature.
For the last two and a half years, the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) has brought together a highly diverse group of climate change negotiators for off-the-record dinners to help build communication and understanding. We seek a fair, sufficient and effective agreement in Paris. We continue to engage with negotiators even in the closing days of this crucial stage, to encourage solidarity in the name of humanity, and to understand national interests as truly global interests. We support champion voices, engage with divisive ones, and in general try to remind delegates of the human impact of their decisions. This week we handed negotiators a one page summary of climate science, ending with quotes from the Britain Yearly Meeting 2009 Minutes, and the Quaker Statement on Climate Change:
We call on our leaders to make the courageous decisions needed to create a fair, sufficient and effective international climate change agreement. The goal is achievable but priorities will need to change: currently, the majority of States commit more resources to warfare than to tackling climate change.
The choices we make now, personal and collective, can ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable peoples now, and all our future generations, do not suffer profoundly as a consequence of our actions. Our faith in common humanity gives us hope: love, rather than fear, can lead us through this crisis.
This is a call to conscience.
Lindsey Fielder Cook
Representative for climate change, Quaker Uniter Nations Office, Geneva
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