Blog

What Easy Actions are Needed from COP21 Paris 2015?

December 2, 2015 – What Actions Needed from COP21 Paris 2015?

When Justin Trudeau became Prime Minister of Canada, he sent a strong message to Canadians and the world that his government would be dealing with climate change, and gender equality. I was cautiously optimistic because they are intrinsically linked.

I became more optimistic when the Prime Minister announced he would be inviting members of the other parties, including Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party, as well as the provincial and territorial premiers to go with him to COP21 in Paris, and they are there now. This made perfect sense for someone who understands the issues.  The national policy can only be implemented at the provincial (and municipal level) and territorial levels, and only if everybody is on the same page. Nature crosses political borders, and waits for no one.

More importantly, Prime Minister Trudeau recognizes the urgency of the matter. Time is running out. The Earth’s climate is already changing all over the planet. It is, now, a matter of our own survival.

Up to the 2009 Copenhagen United Nations Climate Change Conference, the negotiations between nations were always about money and power, and nothing moved. The cost of doing nothing affected a few, and they were far between. There has not been any leadership on the climate change issue, until now.

So, what has happened between 2009 and 2015?  Firstly, severe climatic events around the world since 2009 have shown you can’t separate the economy from the environment.  Leaders are finally getting Nicholas Stern’s stern message to the world in 2006 that the cost of doing nothing about climate change was far greater than the cost of taking action to protect the environment.  Interestingly, the first businesses to get this were insurance companies.

Since then, no country has been unaffected by the huge cost of dealing with the aftermath of an environmental disaster that has come in in the shape of earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, ice storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, melting icefields, etc. Dealing with these events have put a dent in many economies. The climate deniers are now silenced after deliberately causing action delay. Humans have disrupted the Earth’s patterns.

The separation of the economy from the environment is no longer possible.

Secondly, there has also been a greater awareness of the social costs when the environment is neglected.  Since 2009 several governments have toppled because their people did not have food and water. There is more social instability in many parts of the world, including mass migrations from populous countries.  This is all very expensive for governments to deal with. Yes, people are living longer, but health costs have gone up astronomically because the majority are not healthy.

Thirdly, it is obvious that if governments are to remain relevant, they have to take action now.

So, why was I impressed with Prime Minister Trudeau’s commitment to gender equality?  Right now there are 7.4 billion people on the planet.  No part of the planet is unaffected by humans. The human population can be dramatically reduced quickly if women around the world are given equal education, jobs, and income to men.

Along with childcare, women would have fewer children, but they would all survive and contribute to society. This is what happened in Quebec.

Women see more clearly our responsibility to future, and past generations.  The seven generations linked together.

What do I hope will be accomplished from COP21?


1) An acknowledgement that the planet’s climate is changing as a result of human intervention, and our survival on this planet as we know it is in danger;

2) That all countries adopt triple bottom line accounting (economic, environmental, and social costs) that are transparent and easy to administer;

3) That all countries adopt cradle to grave policies for governments, businesses, and consumers;

4) That natural habitats be protected on paper, and enforced on the ground as a well-being wealth asset;

5) That all government levels work together at implementing this action;

6) That forests, and trees be protected and restored as valuable efficient lungs and carbon sequestrators for the planet, and home to species that we need for our own survival;

7) Any remedial action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will first replace or restore the natural habitat that was destroyed.

8) Gender equality

I think these are easy, achievable, and inexpensive goals that will transform our relationship with the planet!

The Implementation of most of these actions will be at the city level where most populations are located.  Cities also have the structure in place to communicate, educate, and implement these goals while working with the provinces.  Infrastructures need to be climate resilient and decentralized. Cities are also the first responders to environmental crises, and should have a voice.

Yes, I am hopeful that because it is 2015 we, as a world community are now dealing with climate change.  Our culture is now changing to one of sustainability.

Sharolyn Mathieu Vettese
President, SMV Energy Solutions
www.smvholdings.com

Share

web site development by SeeThrough Web