International agreements
A global problem requires global solutions and depends on international cooperation. It is a significant challenge that international cooperation requires time and patience, tolerance and cultural understanding. For instance, during international negotiations in relation to trade and resources, it is customary that one party will only assume a responsibility if the other reciprocates. The “wait and see” tactic can be effective in some situations, but it is unsuited to international climate negotiations when our future is at stake.
There is no possible compromise with respect to CO2 levels in the atmosphere: the world has an absolute level that has to be in place. For this reason, climate negotiations are not like other negotiations. Delays in the reduction of emissions and weakness of ambition can be measured directly in terms of thinner ice, higher average temperatures and more extreme weather. Climate change is occurring more quickly than previously assumed. Many people are already feeling the effects of it and are becoming climate refugees.
Fairness is a central issue in negotiations on a new climate agreement. Should a country’s present level of emissions be taken as a starting point, or should the right to emit CO2 be divided equally among all the people of the world? In a historical perspective, the rich countries have already used up their “quotas” and have in fact created the climate crisis. Up to the present day, the poor countries have released minimal quantities of greenhouses gases into the atmosphere, and must be given the opportunity to increase their standard of living. Poorer countries need financial support from the rich countries to achieve clean growth.
