We must act now
Sean McDonagh
AS A missionary society the Columbans commitment to ecological justice springs from an ethical and religious base - the gospel of Jesus. We are not scientists, though we try to use the best scientific information available when we discuss ecological issues as diverse as genetic engineering, patenting living organisms, nuclear power or climate change.
As an observer at the UN Climate Change Conference in Nairobi I was dismayed to learn that almost all the negotiations around climate change lean on science, politics and economics but seldom mention the core ethical values involved in any human activity.
This is a shame because many profound ethical questions are obscured by scientific and economic arguments about various climate change proposals. Unless ethical arguments are addressed individual nations will continue to seek their short-term economic well-being no matter how this affects the global common good, especially poorer countries.
During the conference I was delighted to see a White Paper on the Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change unveiled. The pressure to include ethics in any climate change negotiations stems from a decision taken at a similar Conference in Buenos Aires two years ago.
The White Paper highlighted a number of important elements that include:
Responsibility for Damages - This states that the cost to an economy is not an ethically acceptable excuse for an individual nation to fail to take actions.
Atmospheric targets - Annex 1 countries (rich countries which have signed up to Kyoto) are ethically obligated to consider the interests of non-represented future generations and other creatures.
Allocating Global Emissions among Nations - The polluter pays principle is consistent with principles of distributive justice. This means that there is an ethical imperative on every nation to try to promote sustainable development policies. Faced with the disruption which climate change will bring, everyone must assume their responsibility. Naturally, rich nations, which caused the problem in the first place, are called to shoulder the lions share of the burden of cutting greenhouse gas emissions and helping nations already affected by climate change adapt to their new situation.
Scientific Uncertainty in Policy Making - Some countries have used the excuse of scientific uncertainty to avoid cutting their greenhouse gas emissions. Once again this excuse transgresses basic ethical norms. When there is a possibility for great harm then the precautionary principle dictates that nations take prudent precautions not to harm other nations or future generations. The reality is that the scientific uncertainty around global warming is minimal.
Cost to National Economy - It is ethically irresponsible to refuse to take action to reduce greenhouse gases on the basis of the cost to the national economy.
Potential New Technologies -
Listening to some of the Parties, especially those from the US, Australia and Russia one would think that new technologies will solve all our problems. Traditionally we used to pray - Our Help is in the Name of the Lord. Now the mantra seems to be Our Help is in Technology. The levels of denial are huge in some quarters. It is simply ethically untenable to appeal to the possibility that future, cheap technologies will solve our problem with global warming. They will not. In fact, if there is anything we should have learned from the development of technologies it is that they come with a cost. Climate change is after all a by-product of the petrochemical revolution!
Procedural Fairness - It is immoral to consider the impact of climate change on ones own country before reducing emissions.
The first phase of the Kyoto Protocol* ends in 2012. What are the ethical imperatives for the period between 2012 and 2020? The rich nations must:
* Reduce emission rapidly to prevent disastrous climate change.
* Provide the resources for poor countries to achieve sustainable development while not opting for a carbon intensive route to economic growth.
* Provide compensation for climate change damages that are unavoidable,
and wherever possible make resources available to poor communities so that they can adapt and enjoy a decent standard of living.
Finally, I was delighted to see the Columban logo at one of NGO presentations at the Climate Change conference. For over two years Ellen Teague has been working with the - UP in Smoke - coalition. This is a group of development and environment agencies that have been developing material on the impact of climate change on Africa and Latin America.
As Columbans we should be proud to be associated with this group, particularly since our recent General Assembly commits us to engage the issue of climate change.
* The Twelfth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Second Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol took place at the United Nations Office in Nairobi, Kenya from November 6-17 last year.
