Climate change challenges:

Developed countries dragging their feet

Wasantha Ramanayake

The adaption to the changing climate is costly however if not promptly addressed repercussions could be devastating, said Science and Technology Minister Tissa Vitharana at the British Council, Colombo, recently.

Minister Vitharana predicted that the Colombo city would have to move inland in few decades due to rising sea level as a result of the climate change. “To bear costs of the climate change such as that could be far more expensive than to adapt or mitigate the climate change,” the Minister noted. The Minister was the Chief Guest at the opening ceremony of two events “Talking Climate,” with British Journalist Paul Rose.

The Minister regarded the developing countries as most affected by the aftermath of the climate change which would manifest in climate extremities such as desertification, long droughts and heavy rains.

He said that the commitments of the developed countries especially America is not at all sufficient to tackle the problem of this magnitude.

He pointed out that developing countries in Asia, Africa and South America are hard hit by droughts, floods and various other weather related extremities. He said that the world has failed to address the issue of climate change effectively and added that the inaction by the developed countries imperil developing countries.

He added that country’s CO2 emissions only amount to 0.2 % of total global emissions thus would not have any impact on the global climate. In contrast with over 20% of emissions the US has not done enough to tackle the problem, the Minister said.

Far reaching negative impacts of climate change would drown small islands such as Maldives by the end of the century for which islands such as Maldives’ contribution is minimal.

Prof. Tissa Vitharana said that the theme “Communicating Science in the Warming Planet,” is particularly important and timely in the context of its drastic impacts.

He said that the world has failed to find a lasting solution to the climate change. “In the context of the drastic climate change; sea level rising, desertification, drought and heavy rains, the science communication is very important to highlight the magnitude of the problem,” he said. He added that the world has failed to address the issue of climate change effectively.

Communication

He said that the science communication is also important to counter lobbying of the oil companies’ and other climate skeptics who were so strong and that certain government in the past had been forced to drop its proposals to implement hydro power projects in favour of diesel fired thermal plants. He added that the world has failed to address the issue of climate change effectively.

He said that last year’s UNESCO meeting of the Science and Technology Minister had consensus on the issue of the man-made climate change. “The scenario had dramatically changed since the previous year as last year almost all the countries were agreed to the whole phenomenon of climate change in face of the overwhelming evidence of man-made climate change,” the Minister revealed. The Minister noted that the previous year there was hardly any consensus on the issue.

However, the Minister added that although evidence was presented to the world leaders at the UN Headquarters last year “the response was not what should have been,” he said.

“It was indeed very sad to note that there was hardly any commitment by the developed countries at the Copenhagen Summit.” He emphasized importance of communication as a tool empowering the people.

The Minister pointed out that Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) required the developed countries to reduce their CO2 emissions by 40% of at 1990 level by the year 2020 and 80% by the 2050. “Only a handful of countries prepared to meet these targets,” he said.

He pointed out as a developing country Sri Lanka is not obliged to abandon the use of fossil fuel. However, he emphasized that the developing countries too should switch to the green energies, although costly, in achieving their development goals.

Dr. Paul Rose was of the view that journalist rather than scientist are better positioned in communicating climate science. “Their jargon could have been a barrier,” Rose said. Rose said that the world lacked the true leader to address the issues of climate change but is optimistic that future world with more Internet access would produce such a leader who could address the issue.

Change

“Climate Talking” is an exercise by the British Council and to openly discuss and debate the climate change, British Council Deputy Director in Sri Lanka Duncan Wilson said. He added that bringing down UK climate experts to share their experience with Sri Lankans is a part of its climate change project, Low Carbon Futures.

Prof. University Grants Commission Vice Chairman Prof. M.T.M Jiffry, Open University Senior Lecturer Dr. Jayantha Wattavidanage and Science Writer Nalaka Gunawardane also participated.

“Talking Climate,” with BBC presenter and explorer Paul Rose, on “the Communicating Science on Warming Planet,” was jointly organized by the British Council, National Science Foundation and the TVE Asia and Pacific.