Comments on COP17 in Durban from Professor Hugh Montgomery

The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) in Durban organised by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is now over. Many will state that the meeting was a complete failure. A failure to respond to a disaster. Read some of the describing comments on COP17 in Durban from Professor Hugh Montgomery:

“In November, an IPCC special report confirmed that global warming would be associated with extreme weather events, heavy precipitation/ flooding, and drought. Whether the floods which covered 1/5th of Pakistan’s land area in 2010, the massive drought in Europe last year (with fires in Russia and loss of wheat crops), or the flooding this year in Thailand and Vietnam can be ascribed to global warming cannot, of course, be proved.

But we have had less than 0.8C rise in temperature so far….

What does that mean? That we are on track for AT LEAST a 3 degree rise in temperature this century- which the Potsdam Institute says may lead to an extinction event of <70%. The temperature rise- and impacts- will be much worse if emissions are allowed to continue to climb, of if positive feedbacks come to play.

The response in COP17 then? Argue about historical responsibility, and the right to develop/ keep developing. Then agree to try to negotiate a plan, slow time, and not to enact one (if at all) until 2020. Agree to establish a green fund for adaptation, but not put money into it. Agree to account for deforestation- but by saying that any deforestation less than that planned is a ‘saving’ not a loss.

The plain truth is that COP17 hasn’t prevented a single gramme of CO2 being emitted… and may never do so.

Were the world a patient, we’d be calling the cardiac arrest team just now. As it is, a committee of the unqualified seems to be looking at the monitors, arguing whose fault it is, and establishing a committee to discuss a possible treatment plan.

We must all now consider what emergency action to take. We have nearly run out of time.”

Advertisement