Despite of all the round table discussions, the deadlock between the developing and the developed nations over the greenhouse gas emission reduction issue continues.
The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri)’s Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS) recently invited a high-level delegation comprising heads of states, environment ministers, government officials and representatives from top corporates to chalk out a concrete strategy, mitigating the impact of climate change. However, no consensus could be reached.
The DSDS, held from February 7-9 was projected as major global process to tackle the challenges of climate change following the UN framework convention on climate change, which took place in Bali in December 2007.
During the summit, the representatives from the developing countries continued underlining that the developed countries like the United States, Canada and those in the European Union must cut down on the per capita reduction on emissions of greenhouse gases. However, developed countries stressed that climate change is a global problem that demands global response.
Addressing the summit, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said that a principle of relative burden sharing needs to be adopted to reduce the adverse impact on climate change.
Addressing the delegates, Pakistan’s minister for environment Syed Wajid Hussain Bukhari said, “Pakistan contributes about 0.43% of the global greenhouse gases. However, the adverse impact of climate change is faced by the developing countries.”
Mary Chinery Hesse, chief adviser to the President of Ghana, pointed out that Africa contributes about 3% of the global greenhouse gas emission. Of this, South Africa and Nigeria contribute 75%.
“With such minuscule emission, asking us to stop cutting trees would imply that we should stop cooking food,” Hesse said.
There was pressure on the developed countries to take immediate action facilitating reduction of carbon dioxide emission. Anil Kumar Bachoo, minister of environment Mauritius said low lying islands and coastal states face enormous danger and immediate action is essential for their survival.
“Immediate action would yield dividends that will lower the cost in the long run,” Bachoo said. While acknowledging the role of developed countries, Finland’s minister for environment Kimo Tilikainen said, “We must be ready to help each other in the global effort to tackle climate change and developed nations should lead the way.”