An Inconvenient Suggestion

On September 24th and 25th Pittsburgh was host to the the 20 most powerful economies of today. As you all know, the G20 convened once again to discuss the future of their world, our world, your world. One of the many points on the agenda, consistent with other recent G20 summits, was tackling climate change. To this effect, the G20 sees itself as pioneering a groundbreaking effort that includes phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, encouraging greater transparency and oversight in oil markets, boosting investments in green technology and innovation, promoting bilateral climate change partnerships for clean technology.

Sound like a broken record?

What's so groundbreaking about these points that seem like the favourite refrain of every politician seeking to earn a few brownie points?

Well, for starters, this agenda was accompanied by Barrack Obama's Recovery Act, which not only assumes the fact that the USA is the the world's largest producer of carbon emissions, but also pledge $80+ billion towards clean energy. Moreover, it includes a comprehensive energy and climate bill that proposes reducing carbon emission by 80% by 2050 in the USA.

More groundbreaking still is the suggestion that India (spearheaded by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh) proposed at the summit. In a nutshell, developed countries should take on a larger share of the responsibility concerning climate change, since less developed countries do not have the same resources to tackle these issues. Not that India is saying the weight of climate change lies solely with the West, simply that it is in a better position to effectively address the issues at hand. Also, and here's the clincher, patents and intellectual property laws should be waived with respect to clean green technology. Since climate change is something that effects the whole planet, knowledge on how to tackle and concrete methods that work should be shared equally across the globe.

How's that for a sustainable, equitable suggestion?

The question still remains, beyond all gestures, proposals, talks and good intentions, can the world look beyond profit, political, economic, social and cultural difference and truly unite under the fight to save our environment, and how?