UNITED NATIONS — The persistent inability of the United Nations to forge international consensus on climate change issues was on display Wednesday, as Security Council members disagreed over whether they should address possible instability provoked by problems like rising sea levels or competition over water
resources.
Western powers like the United States argued that the potential effects of climate change, including the mass migrations of populations, made it a crucial issue in terms of global peace and security. Russia and China, backed by much of the developing world, rejected the notion that the issue even belonged on the Security Council agenda.
With the major powers again at loggerheads, President Marcus Stephen of Nauru traveled the nearly 8,000 miles from his tiny Pacific island state to plead for action.
resources.
Western powers like the United States argued that the potential effects of climate change, including the mass migrations of populations, made it a crucial issue in terms of global peace and security. Russia and China, backed by much of the developing world, rejected the notion that the issue even belonged on the Security Council agenda.
With the major powers again at loggerheads, President Marcus Stephen of Nauru traveled the nearly 8,000 miles from his tiny Pacific island state to plead for action.
Speaking on behalf of some 14 island states vulnerable to disappearing or at least losing significant territory to rising sea levels, Mr. Stephen mused aloud about how the debate might differ if larger countries were affected.
“What if the pollution coming from our island nations was threatening the very existence of the major emitters?” he said. “What would be the nature of today’s debate under
those circumstances?”
Countries threatened with extinction — already some residents have experimented with emigrating as higher and higher tides endanger their livelihoods — are tired of merely hearing sympathy for their plight, the president said.
“Demonstrate it by formally recognizing that climate change is a threat to international peace and security,” Mr. Stephen said, comparing it to nuclear proliferation or terrorism given its potential to destabilize governments and create conflict. “Neither has ever led to the disappearance of an entire nation, though that is what we are confronted with today.”
Achim Steiner, the head of the United Nations Environment Program, noted that 145 countries rely on water from rivers that cross borders, with tension escalating among states over control of them as demand starts to outstrip supply.
Despite such pleas, the debate, organized by Germany as this month’s council president, broke down along the same basic fault lines as the first such discussion four years ago. Much of the argument was about bureaucratic prerogatives. (President Stephen of Nauru said he wished council members were more concerned about encroaching water than encroachments on bureaucratic turf.)
Both Russia and China stressed that other United Nations bodies were the proper places for discussion, in particular the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, because it includes all member states. The bloc of some 120 developing nations endorsed this position, echoed in the speeches of Brazil, India and South Africa, among others. Some said concerns about climate change were based on speculation rather than science.
“Climate change may affect security but it is fundamentally a sustainable development issue,” said Wang Min, the deputy permanent representative from China, repeating a longstanding Chinese position that the developed world should devote more aid to helping those affected. “The Security Council does not have the expertise in climate change and does not have the necessary means and resources.”
The American ambassador, Susan E. Rice, lashed out at other members for not addressing the problem. “This is more than disappointing,” she said. “It’s pathetic.”
Outside organizations that track climate change negotiations said that despite the lack of consensus, any high profile attention paid to the issue was helpful.
They also noted a certain irony that countries arguing against Security Council action, like Russia and China, were actually taking real steps toward mitigating climate change
This is a great article. I am learning more about the environment through your blog. I think that governments should do more to make the environment a priority as it affects the future of our world and existence. Although things are slowing starting to be done with regards to the environment, much more needs to be done.
ReplyDeleteI agree but is not a priority for certain people with political power for the simple reason that in some ways it slows economic growth. Its similar to the light bulb example in which the light bulb is more expensive but you get benefits over time. Political minds that are not pro-environment per se need to realize that in the long run is better for everyone. Nevertheless in some instances the science is somewhat vague some people see is a muble jumbo (including some scientits). The one thing that makes me feel better is that I will be long dead when it is really too late to do anything about it.
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