Doha delivers 'dead' deal on climate change

In these days of markets and profits, it's not surprising for former US president George W. Bush and his successor Obama to sanction trillions of dollars to bail out banks, and insurance and auto companies. It's not surprising either to see Obama ask US Congress to sanction $60.4 billion to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy. But it would be really surprising to see the US contribute significantly to the $100-billion fund for the victims of climate change in the poorest countries. The bailouts were to make profits and the "Sandy fund" would be to help Americans. The climate fund is for neither, hence the "denial".

We have to forget that during the Copenhagen climate talks in 2009, Obama had promised developed countries would pay $100 billion to developing countries to fight global warming. We also have to forget that rich countries have not paid their contributions to the $30-billion Fast Start Fund from 2010 to 2012.

The Doha climate talks, like so many international talks, could have been usurped by the developed countries had China not stood firm with other developing nations. But even then the developed world saw to it that Filipino chief negotiator Naderev Sano's impassioned plea fell on deaf ears. The meaning of Sano's words was not lost on anyone, but then he was not talking money. Sano said: "I appeal to the whole world, I appeal to leaders from all over the world, to open our eyes to the stark reality that we face The outcome of our work is not about what our political masters want. It is about what is demanded of us by 7 billion people. I ask of all of us here, if not us, then who? If not now, then when? If not here, then where?"

Perhaps the world leaders, especially the developed world, would listen to the call of the planet if climate change was a money-making business.

The author is a senior editor with China Daily.

Email: oprana@hotmail.com.

(China Daily 12/11/2012 page9)