Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Global Warming Requires Global Action According to UN

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for "global leadership" and a "new way of thinking" in dealing with climate change.   Speaking at Liechtenstein's Vaduz-Saal, the UN chief emphasized the world has become a smaller place, where the activity of 7 billion humans and growing can have global impacts.  He cautioned that "We must think green, too – an ambitious climate change agreement -- and environmental governance that protects the resource basis."  His full speech can be read here.

While all parties work to protect their own interests - the wealthy countries their status of living and the poor countries their options for the future in a world for which they largely aren't responsible.  But in another sense, we are all in this together.  This planet is the only one we have, and our actions are having dramatic and long-term effects on the climate in which future generations will have to live.  We have a responsibility to be good stewards for our children and grandchildren.  How we proceed will tell them more about us than how big the wide screen TV is that we bring home.

According to Ban Ki-moon:
What I mean, quite simply, is sovereign states coming together -- pragmatically, as partners.

I mean people transcending borders and narrow national identities to defend against common threats – and to seize common opportunities.  

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