Climate summit COP 13 in Bali - Side event on “climate change and justice”10 December 2007The issue of “climate change and justice” is gaining in importance, as was illustrated by numerous debates during the 13th world climate summit in Bali. The plenary sessions also discussed the creation of a climate fund for the benefit of the poor countries particularly affected. The industrial nations with their high consumption of natural resources are largely responsible for man-made climate change, but it is the developing countries that suffer most from the effects. Members of our “climate change and justice” project specially organised a side event on the subject during the 13th world climate summit. Thomas Loster of the Munich Re Foundation pointed out that in the past, including in 2007, the poorest countries had to bear the brunt of weather catastrophes. Hans Martin Füssel of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) referred to the growing risks attributable to climate change and stated that poor people were especially vulnerable. Ottmar Edenhofer of the PIK presented calculations of the industrial nations' “carbon debt” and proved that the losses caused by climate change could be kept to a manageable level. He also explained by means of calculations that the conflicting goals of economic growth and climate protection were avoidable. Anika Schroeder of Misereor concluded the presentations, emphasising that sustainable development was only possible if it integrated climate protection and poverty relief. With an appeal to everyone to strengthen the capacity to act of all those affected in poor countries, she opened a discussion among 50 experts from governmental and non-governmental organisations on the important aspects of “climate change and justice”. Read the press release (PDF, 138 KB) Visit the project website www.klima-und-gerechtigkeit.de |