Mr. Kofi Annan's take on Climate Change

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Yesterday, on Saturday 18th August 2018, the world lost a great leader.

Rest in peace Mr. Kofi Annan. 

History will remember you as a champion of peace and sustainability.

A Nobel Peace Laureate, Mr. Kofi Atta Annan was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations. While we remember him and as we have been talking of climate change being the cause of the extreme weather conditions all over the world, I want to share Mr. Annan's views on climate change. In his interview, published in the Observer on Sunday 3 May 2015, Mr. Annan had shared his views on climate change, the Paris summit and how ordinary people can make a difference. He very clearly emphasised that we must challenge climate-change skeptics.

To quote Mr. Annan, "We seriously have to question the motivation of those people referred to as climate change skeptics, who are denying the evidence of human-caused climate change and preventing us from moving forward by spreading disinformation and supporting unchecked carbon pollution."

According to Mr. Annan, the world was reaching that tipping point beyond which climate change could become irreversible and in such a situation the whole of humanity would stand to lose. He proposed that shifting towards low-carbon energy systems can not only avert climate catastrophe but also creating opportunities for investment, growth and employment in this new sector.

He suggested a tax on carbon emissions that could make an important contribution to the fight against global warming. He also proposed that rich countries and those with the highest emissions, could help poor and vulnerable countries adapt to climate change impacts and pursue green growth.

Mr. Annan was confident that that ordinary citizens, particularly young people, can catalyse positive change and make a difference. In his words, "if leaders are unwilling to lead when leadership is required, people must."

I completely agree with his opinion that while giving due importance to mitigation of climate change, the climate change imperative can also be considered as an opportunity for energy-poor nations to develop clean energy solutions, without experimenting with non-renewable and polluting energy sources.

Let me conclude with Mr. Annan's realistic take on climate change, "We cannot allow ourselves to choose between climate change mitigation and adaptation. We simply need both."

The international news over the last few years as also our forum is ripe with reports of devastation caused by extreme weather conditions all over the world. As we look around us today, three years after the interview of Mr. Annan, the ground reality supports his statement above. I hope that governments, organisations and public will first of all recognise climate change as real and then exert two fold efforts. It is imperative that we work towards a carbon neutral world, while at the same time seek suitable solutions to adapt to the severe climate change consequences that are already underway.

Please follow the link below for the reference source of this report and to read the detailed interview.

https://www.kofiannanfoundation.org/in-the-news/%E2%80%98we-must-challenge-climate-change-sceptics%E2%80%99/