Bianca Jagger Calls For Carbon Emission Reductions

"We have already reached the stage of dangerous climate change. Our task now is to prevent catastrophic climate chaos."

Bianca Jagger Calls for Carbon Emission Reductions

Bianca Jagger, Chair of the World Future Council, today called on the politicians participating in the Bali conference to agree vigorous political and financial measures to implement stringent emission reduction targets and ecosystems restoration efforts.

The earth is perilously close to dramatic climate change that could run out of control. If the rich, industrialised countries want to limit average global temperatures to 2°C, they will have to commit to a legally binding reduction of 80% in carbon emissions by 2020 whilst working vigorously to restore the earth's capacity to absorb greenhouse gases. Current pledges of 80% C02 emissions reductions by 2050 are anachronistic and irresponsible given the gravity of the situation.

Bianca Jagger said: "Recent studies show that even the most alarming predictions by the IPCC were too conservative. We must agree on legally binding goals and measures on climate protection now, not in the future. To make a significant difference, we must replace a carbon-driven economy with a carbon-absorbing economy."

In the fight against climate change, the UNFCCC also has to consider the question of 'climate justice'. Developing countries suffer most from the impacts of climate change, even though their economies have not benefited from fossil fuel-driven industrialization. These countries can only commit to 'clean development' if financial support and technology transfer is available to them.

Bianca Jagger said justice is the litmus test for any measures to combat climate change including justice between countries, within countries, between generations and with nature. Developing countries have a right to modern technologies to help them cope with the impacts of climate change. "Climate justice means giving the poorer countries privileged access to renewable energy technologies to help them counteract the damage caused by a carbon driven economy."

The World Future Council also calls on wealthy countries to live up to their responsibilities and set up an international investment fund that guarantees technology transfer from the North to the South. To finance this, companies should not merely receive carbon trading certificates, but instead have to purchase them at auction. This reflects the UNFCCC's 'polluter pays' principle and is in effect compensation for those hardest hit by climate change from those most responsible.

At the Bali convention the World Future Council, as the voice of future generations, is drawing special attention to the importance of renewable energy as the basis of a totally new energy system for the planet. We need to initiate appropriate legislation worldwide to install carbon-free, decentralized, efficient, renewable and secure energy systems sufficient for all the earth's people. This switch needs to start immediately. The World Future Council perceives it as a crime against the future if the gap between 'knowing' and 'acting' in all the related areas of climate change is not overcome immediately.

Bianca Jagger: "According to many scientists we have less than a decade left to address the issue of climate change before we reach the 'tipping point' in the earth system. It is the responsibility of leaders everywhere to fully understand the problem if they are to meet the challenges. Their failure to act effectively would inevitably precipitate cataclysmic changes in the earth system that could obliterate almost all life on earth".

The World Future Council is a global forum of 50 respected personalities who give voice to the shared ethical values of citizens worldwide. The Council works closely with policy-makers, civil societies and business to identify and implement best policies to protect the rights of future generations. www.worldfuturecouncil.org.

ENDS

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