From: The Barbados Advocate
Earlier this week, Brazil and Venezuela agreed to a meeting of Amazon nations. ‘Amazon nations’ refers those nations within whose borders the vast Amazon rainforest falls. The aim of the meeting is to establish a common position on the Amazon prior to the up-coming Climate Change meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. This is essential, says Brazilian President Lula Da Silva, so that Amazon nations don’t end up “looking after trees” while other nations grow rich creating green house gases.
Growing tension
President Da Silva’s position is symptomatic of the growing tensions which the issue of climate change is creating. While the world has finally reached agreement on the reality of climate change and on the need to do something about it, questions remain, such as what to do, and who should do it.
It is recognised that the most expedient measure to mitigate climate change’s effects is to arrest the actions which are contributing to the situation. The primary culprits in climate change are the high
carbon emissions of factories, electricity generating plants and the exhaust from car engines.
Unfortunately, these just happen to be the building blocks of a comfortable life with a reasonable level of development. They are also key contributors to economic wealth. The industrial revolution has played a great role in the rise of industrialised nations like US, Great Britain and France to power and
prosperity.
Limiting industrialisation and the use of all our remaining resources, not just fossil fuels, will be necessary to combat climate change. Conservation of trees will play an important role as well, given their role in maintaining air quality.
In this respect the Amazon has become of vital importance. As the world’s single largest biomass (concentration of living matter) it is the world’s largest absorber of carbon dioxide. At the same time, the
forest represents a massive resource for forestry and agricultural land.
To limit industrialisation at this point raises serious questions. Is it fair to deny the chance at prosperity to those who have been languishing in underdevelopment for decades? Or is the state of the planet more important?
No brainer?
At first glance, the answer to this question is a no-brainer, especially to us in the Caribbean, who are at the mercy of severe hurricanes, crippling droughts and sea level rise – all side effects of climate change. Arresting environmental damage must be paramount.
However, one must consider the dilemma faced by many of these nations. For the most part, we in the region have managed to attain a reasonable level of development. Most of our citizens have access to electricity, clean water and other amenities. However, for our neighbours to the south, the possibility of real development will only be possible through strong, consistent economic growth. Limiting the use of the Amazon will make this
much more difficult.
From this standpoint, President Da Silva’s comments become understandable. It is unreasonable to expect Amazon nations to stay relatively poor while others do nothing to mitigate climate change. Therefore, when the world convenes for the Copenhagen summit, there must be commitment from all parties.
It cannot be a repeat of the Kyoto summit, when key polluters like the US and China refused to do their part. Everyone must be willing to contribute, or we may find that the Amazon nations will decide that instead of looking after trees, it is more profitable to cut them down.