EDITORIAL
More hot air at climate conference
All countries, whatever their level of economic development, must realise that no one escapes global warming
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), attended by some 400 scientists and experts from around the world, concluded its week-long meeting in Bangkok last week with little fanfare. As expected, participants came up with guidelines on ways to cut greenhouse-gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of global warming while keeping costs to the global economy at a manageable level. As is always the case with such international forums, politics got in the way. Time that could have been spent discussing new measures and additional commitments was wasted because three fast-growing developing countries, China, India and Brazil, insisted that rich countries acknowledge their historic responsibility for greenhouse-gas emissions, from the dawn of the industrial age to the present day. Their demand was rejected by industrial countries as a smokescreen to divert attention from the real issue - that the three, which have been industrialising at a furious pace, are also to blame for releasing huge volumes of gases into the atmosphere. The controversial demand was not met and the IPCC eventually put out a guideline that will provide the framework for future talks.That climate change is a man-made phenomenon is backed by solid scientific evidence and is beyond debate. What the world should be doing now is to focus on how to mitigate its impact under the principle of commitments to cut emissions at their source through cost-effective means. Countries that are responsible for greater gas emissions must do more to reduce them while countries that are responsible for less also do their part proportionately. The IPCC meeting produced guidelines for policymakers as part of the effort to find a new international framework for actions and commitments after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. The UN Framework for Climate Change Convention, the body responsible for the Kyoto Protocol, will be put in charge of drafting post-Kyoto commitments as well. Many participants expected this IPCC guideline to come up with prioritisation of various greenhouse gases (for example, carbon dioxide versus methane), among other things. Developing countries point to the greater share of carbon dioxide for the greenhouse effect that causes climate change, characterised by erratic climate patterns and global warming and rising sea levels. Industrial countries increasingly assign the blame to methane emissions from agricultural activities, such as rice farming. Carbon dioxide accounts for 70 per cent of total greenhouse gases. Most carbon emissions are from developed countries. But the framework suggests that 65 per cent of mitigation methods can be done in the tropics by putting a stop to rapid deforestation. This is like shifting the blame around between rich and poor countries and does not help improve the dire situation that all countries, regardless of their economic status, are finding themselves in. All countries, regardless of their stage of development, must contribute to mitigation. What the international community should do is to make sure that the replacement for the Kyoto Protocol is a step forward and not a step backward. What is a country like Thailand to do? Thailand has been involved in international discussions for a long time but has never placed importance on global warming. The Office of Policy and Planning in the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry never disseminates information to the public. Even for this meeting, no public education or awareness was provided. We have never have had a national plan on how the country can contribute to mitigating global warming. The NESDB, the central planning agency, is not interested. It does not even collect data - and this is a pathetic situation. The Agriculture Ministry has just started exploring ways to mitigate global warming via the farming sector. But there is virtually no coordination among government agencies. The impact of global warming is becoming apparent in erratic climate patterns, drought and flooding. The agricultural sector bears the brunt of these impacts. Thailand, as one of the world's major food producers, must take heed. At present, Thailand is not required under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gases because its contribution to total emissions is still considered negligible. But Thailand has implemented seven clean development projects on a voluntary basis with some industrial countries. Right now the country is doing the minimum amount required. This mindset must change. After all, global warming will affect the whole planet. And every country is in it together.
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