Searching for blue skies of sustainable development

The opening ceremony of the Paris climate change conference, or officially the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), took place on Nov. 30. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, French President Francois Hollande, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC Christiana Figueres, as well as Charles, Prince of Wales attended the opening ceremony. [Photo by Zhao Lisha/China.org.cn]

The gathering in Paris of representatives from 200 nations who have come together to engage in dialogue on climate change is a powerful rebuke to the senseless violence that Paris suffered just a short time ago. Senseless violence on innocent people has been replaced by peaceful dialogue to deal with a common problem that challenges all people on our fragile planet.

On the positive side, it is a healthy sign that at least global warming is firmly on the agenda of the world's leaders. In the case of President Xi Jinping, it is also symbolically important that he is the first Chinese leader to address a UN Conference on global climate change.Two hundred countries represented by 40,000 delegates have come together to continue dialogue, set targets, argue for transparency, promote innovation and move the world forward on what is one of humanity's most significant threats. This conference and the ensuing outcomes will do much to raise the awareness of the issue and hopefully galvanize further action on the local level, i.e. going from thinking globally to acting locally, to reducing carbon emissions, promoting uses of renewable energy, etc.

Another plus is the fact that the leaders of the two largest economies in the world and two of the largest creators of carbon emissions, China's President Xi and U.S. President Obama, are committed to working together to find a way forward. While there are differences in the approaches and especially in the details, they start from the important overarching principle that all nations must take action and work together if the world is going to be successful in meeting this challenge.

Another positive is the commitment China has demonstrated in placing a high priority on seriously tackling its severe environmental problems. This commitment also reflects increasing concern by Chinese and global citizens that urgent and major steps must be taken to tackle this problem. This will require the same commitment that China has made over the last two decades in lifting half a billion people out of property. China is thus taking major steps to promote green technology, reduce reliance on coal and clean up its air, water and other natural resources. Indeed, China is a world leader in renewable energy capacity and conservation. However, the damage is severe and the task will take a long time.

Another positive is a growing recognition that technology and innovation must play a major role in tackling climate change. This was a theme stressed by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and others. Neither should it go unnoticed that some of the world's richest people, such as Bill Gates, are stepping up to donate and give back much of their wealth to assist the world on climate change and other key challenges such as promoting world health and fighting poverty.The most recent example was Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, who have indicated, celebrating the birth of their daughter, that they will donate 99 percent of their Facebook shares to "advancing human potential and promoting equality."

In relation to the climate change process, we should acknowledge the people behind the scenes who have to do the detailed work required to reach an agreement. I would especially acknowledge the role of lawyers, public servants, and other professionals who have to design the language, protocols, checks and balances required to find a workable "next-step" solution. From the standpoint of the overall process, it is also clear that this year's climate conference appears to be better organized and prepared than was the case five years ago. For example, many countries have done their homework and announced carbon reduction commitments in advance of the Paris meeting.

We should also acknowledge the role that democracy played as activist groups like those in Paris are in force all over the world. It is good that citizens are actively involved and making their voices heard.

It is also good that politicians, who can often be short-sighted and focused on today, are meeting and hopefully committing to a medium and long-term view.

On the negative side it is important to be realistic. The issue of climate change is complex. Part of this complexity is that each country has its own views and its own political process to negotiate. Each country's leaders and delegates must be responsive to political realities back home. For example, President Obama, while sounding the clarion call to collective action, knows that it is most unlikely that he would ever have the political capital and support to get the U.S. to pass an international treaty.The reason is that such a treaty must be passed by a Congress that is controlled by the opposing party. In an election year, there is virtually no chance that such a treaty would be approved.

China has its own pressures. With 200 million people still in poverty, economic growth must continue. The best that can be hoped for is to align that economic growth, as far as possible, with environmental goals, for example by promoting China's emergence as an industry leader in alternative technologies.

India's Prime Minister Modi seeks to promote a global alliance on solar energy development but also has the imperative of growing its own economy fast and that will take a substantial amount of coal burning which remains the cheapest and most economically viable option.

The level of urgency is also greater for some countries, most notably the Pacific Island countries where the effects of global warming have already substantially arrived, literally on their door step, with the rise in sea water levels.

Another issue concerns the targets (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions-INDC's) which countries are setting individually.There is likely to be no enforcement of such targets and no penalties, other than publicity, for not meeting the INDC's.

There is also the issue of history. As President Xi noted, Western developed countries and a capitalistic economy running on coal and oil are major factors in bringing about carbon emissions. President Xi and others maintain that developed countries should honor their commitment of mobilizing US$100 billion each year before 2020. They should provide stronger financial support to developing countries after that date. It is also important that climate-friendly technologies should be transferred to developing countries to help them build a green economy.

Conclusion: Putting the sustainability into 'sustainable development'

Thanks to joint efforts of all parties since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change entered into force over 20 years ago, global actions on climate change have made progress, although there are still numerous difficulties and challenges. This Paris Conference is hence convened to strengthen the implementation of the UNFCCC and bring about a comprehensive, balanced, ambitious and binding agreement on climate change.Yet, change is never easy. It takes time. One cannot reverse 150 years of an economic model that has produced much good, but now must change. The worry remains about how much time we have left and whether we as a species will make it in time.