After reading the article "Credibility gap" (KT, Editorial, Feb.28, 2013) a fundamental question must be asked: to what extent do many countries practice what they preach during the United Nations conferences on climate change?
No simplistic answer can be formulated.The very fact that we witness too much talk and insufficient action on climate change is quite obvious and that generates a massive credibility gap at a global level.
Many countries have repeatedly promised, and then failed, to take adequate action on climate change. National reports indicate that only by miracle the 2020 modest climate goals could be given real tangibility.
Statistics show that on all continents governments have failed to meet their commitments for sufficiently investing in clean energy.
Consequently, the credibility gap risks to become even deeper in the near future, as long as many countries do not respect their own promises.
On the other hand, the dramatic consequences of climate change cannot be negotiated with ambiguous plans and intentions. All debates dealing with adaptation, mitigation, clean technology and financing in the area of climate change could not offer pragmatic answers to the critical questions about how to translate a collective political will into effective commitments. A truly universal and workable strategy on the matter is still on the waiting list.
Therefore, all governments should honestly assess their present and future actions and behavior. Diplomats and experts from 193 countries are expected to attend the next United Nations Climate Change Conference in Warsaw, Poland, Nov. 11-22 2013. Can this conference achieve its objectives and reduce the credibility gap? There are more difficult questions than persuasive answers about climate change. It is vital to have a much more dynamic and innovative ecological diplomacy to deal with the crucial issues of this extremely complex area.
Ioan Voicu
Bangkok