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Poor Island Nations Most Vulnerable to Climate Change highlight Rich Nations Duplicity

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Poor Island Nations like Maldives are most vulnerable to Climate Change with their very existence at stake as rising sea levels threaten to sink them completely in the 21st century itself.The complete lack of progress on climate change and global warming has left these nations in a precarious state.The Alliance of Small Island Nations which comprise of 43 members has brought into focus the duplicity of rich developed nations on their lack of commitment to this problem.The Kyoto Protocol has may imperfections which has allowed the developed nations to escape their responsibility through creative accounting measures.The GFC has led to an economic downturn leading to a large quota of unused carbon credits.This has led to a massive billion dollar windfall for steelmaker Arcelor Mittal highlighting the serious deficiencies in the cap and trade scheme.Note USA is not a participant in this scheme and has not made any commitment to reduce emissions.USA has failed to pass any sort of climate legislation stalling the global warming talks.

The powerful fossil fuel lobbies have funded media attacks on the credibility of the IPCC which has cast doubts in the minds of the common people.With the GFC taking center stage, Global Warming has been put in Cold Storage by the leading nations.Vested interests like Saudi Arabia have even blocked climate change research funding.The poor island nations have little heft or influence in the global power equation and their concerns are going to be met with silence and indifference.The Bonn Talks which are a precursor to the global talks on climate change  in  Cancun,Mexico has proved to be a non-event just like the December meeting is expected to be.

Islands warn rich nations’ emissions pledges fall short – Reuters

Rich nations’ emissions reductions pledges fall dramatically short of what is required to limit global warming to two degrees centigrade, a group of 43 small islands said on Tuesday at U.N. climate talks.This week’s 185-nation conference in Bonn is the penultimate step before the next U.N. climate conference in December. Parties are trying to make progress on shaping a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

However, rifts continue between poorer nations and wealthy countries over who should contribute the most to cutting emissions.Currently, aggregate emissions pledges from developed countries represent a reduction of 12 to 18 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, Al Binger, representing the Alliance of Small Island Nations, said at the talks.But the atmosphere could only see a 1 to 7 percent reduction by 2020 if rich nations exploit “imperfections” in the protocol, he said.

PG

Sneha Shah

I am Sneha, the Editor-in-chief for the Blog. We would be glad to receive suggestions, inputs & comments on GWI from you guys to keep it going! You can contact me for consultancy/trade inquires by writing an email to greensneha@yahoo.in

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