Climate change is still treated more as an economic issue rather than a human one. The discourse is more concerned with economic growth than the profound changes caused by mankind that threatens our very survival. This is not surprising because we live in a political system dominated by the corporate elite and a militaristic ethos where nature is seen as something to be conquered upon, to be used and exploited. It is this dichotomy between economic growth and the protection of environment that has stalled genuine conversation on climate change and its impacts.
More than a month before the conference, we already knew that there would be plenty of empty rhetoric from our world leaders and no legally binding document. Why, because the same countries that propound free market capitalism today denies internationalism when it comes to climate change policies. Governments can regulate trade and formulate environmental policies, but it cannot regulate patterns of rainfall, occurrences of droughts, or incidences of glacial lake outbursts.
Where our government fails is in formulating a comprehensive policy towards the impacts of climate change. Research has suggested that at least one glacier lake outburst flood (GLOF) occurs every two years. Furthermore, unpredictable rainfall patterns have resulted in reduced crop production. By now, it is obvious that the ones who will suffer most are the rural and impoverished class.
Unfortunately, it is India that we have to peg behind due to our asymmetrical treaties. However, the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) lobbying group best represents our interests. The BASIC countries (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) have now argued for ‘carbon intensity’ reduction by 2025. With this stance, it has become clear that neither the developed countries nor the emerging nations are sensitive to the vulnerability of climate change to countries like ours.
Fundamentally, there are three lobbying blocks. They include those that represent the developed nations, the emerging economies, and the LDCs. While the capitalist powers of the developed countries preach a globalized economy, they balk at internationalism when it comes to the environment. This exposes the hypocrisy of the industrialized elite that seeks to perpetuate their system which is fundamentally based on a consumer culture.
For a country like ours, we need to seriously consider what our options are for achieving growth. Our policy has to be based on a careful reevaluation on how to continue to grow economically, taking into factor our economic opportunity and environmental costs. For example, a glacier lake could be a tourist attraction while at the same time pose a mortal threat to the people living down the banks.
As it is, Nepal contributes a minimal amount to the global greenhouse emissions per capita. However, focusing on this is straying from the issue. We have to formulate policies that will address our mitigation and adaptation techniques. One of our main factors of climate degradation is firewood consumption. We can at least seek to minimize this, particularly due to the success of community forest user groups that has been a hallmark of the post 1990 democratic movement.
So where does our government lack? I have never heard from any cabinet member the real implications of climate change on our country. Regardless of their cabinet meeting at the footholds of Mt Everest, what we the people want to hear is some fundamental changes on how we are going to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change. It is not enough for us that a meeting be held beneath Everest to achieve nothing, but international limelight. We sincerely hope that the government will take into consideration the vast grassroots movement for environmental protection that is thriving in Nepal as a cue to implement policies that will have an impact in Copenhagen.
The whole episode reminds me of a song by ‘The Clash’: “If Adolf Hitler was alive today, they’d send him a limousine anyway.” And so the success of Copenhagen today has been touted because Obama is going to attend it.
Related story
Nepathya performs in Copenhagen
