Cross-posted from blog.wwf.ca
“We also have an opportunity to address a second existential threat to human kind – a threat posed by climate change. The science is sobering. And climate change is happening much, much faster than you may realize,” Ban Ki Moon, United Nations Secretary General said as he began is speech in Ottawa, Canada this morning.
“We must be ready and we must be committed to leave this planet Earth to our succeeding generations to be more hospitable and more environmentally sustainable. That is our political and historical responsibility.
That’s what I’m doing as the Secretary General – I’m going to discuss with Prime Minister Harper, as the leader of the G8, and as a chair of the G20 this year, and as one of the most developed countries in the world, Canada has a special role and special responsibility to play. That is what I want to emphasize here.”
After a heavy applause, he thanked the room for our support. He emphasized the importance of grass roots engagement and the necessity to be working in a concerted effort on climate change form all angles and on all levels.
He then turned to Canada and said bluntly, “I urge Canada to comply fully with the targets set out by the Kyoto Protocol. You can strengthen your mitigation target for the future.” After an imminent applause, he continued, “You can join the other industrialized countries in contributing new funding in keeping with the longstanding tradition of global solidarity.”
The new funding he referred to was the short and long term climate change funding countries committed to giving to developing countries – both so countries can adapt to climate change, but also so countries can quickly transition their technologies to things like green energy to immediately cut growing emissions.
In light of the G8 and G20, he emphasized the mass effort required in tacking climate change: “This is about – by any standard – a global challenge. This is not about a single country, however Canada may be rich and resourceful, this cannot be done by only you. This must be done by the entire world – the people of all the world. This is a global challenge that requires global responses.
He left the topic of climate change in a simple yet straightforward tone: “Canada has much to contribute. [We are] taking a lead, and I am sure you will continue to press the government, and your leadership to do the same.”
I didn’t get the chance to as a question at the mic near the end, but if I had, I would have considered requesting permission to hug him in thanks - on behalf of all of us who hope Canada will aspire to the level of ambition of which Ban Ki Moon speaks.
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