Coming together on climate
FOLLOWING LAST week's climate talks in Bangkok, the world has a fresh opportunity to turn words into action.
For years, we have debated the "whether" and "why" of climate change. Except for a stubborn minority, those questions have been answered. Yes, climate change is occurring and human activities are a significant contributor. The task now is to wrestle with the questions of "how" and "what." How does the world best organize itself to respond? What is the right formula for bringing nations together in support of a common solution to a shared problem?
These questions can only be answered through the art of diplomacy. Recently in Denmark, a group of foreign ministers met to discuss how to tackle climate change, which, unless eased, will cause severe weather events, water scarcity, and food shortages that will threaten security and human health everywhere. The international community has the knowledge and capacity to mitigate global emissions and adapt to a changed climate. Already, many nations are deploying clean technologies wherever practical. Other countries are adjusting through improved flood protections, crop irrigation systems, and preparations for humanitarian relief.
These initiatives are positive but insufficient. An effective strategy demands a comprehensive approach. Our challenge is to persuade governments from widely different nations to agree on rules and actions that will reduce the emissions that cause global warming. Diplomatic talents must be exercised - bilaterally, regionally and globally - to bring those talks to a productive conclusion.
It is up to our leaders to decide which diplomatic tools can best be used in particular circumstances. For example, trade agreements might be employed to provide incentives for participation in global environmental initiatives and for the expanded use of green technologies. Sector-specific plans could be developed for allocating mitigation requirements fairly, and regional dialogues could be helpful in identifying ways for specific groups (such as island nations) to adapt. In each case, representatives of civil society, including businesses and NGOs, should be invited to engage. It is critical that we bridge the communications gap between scientists and decision makers.
Diplomatic expertise is vital for other reasons as well. Often in a negotiation, it is easier to identify the substance of a compromise than to explain to each party why it is in the best interest of their constituencies. A successful negotiation requires an immense amount of preparation designed to build public support for whatever agreement is announced. It is no small trick to bring diverse nations together and enable the leaders of each to say that their core concerns have been satisfied. That is why diplomacy, though centered around bargaining, also entails education, communication and theater.
Climate change negotiations will achieve their purpose only if every segment of the world community thinks it is being treated fairly. This cannot be determined accurately without scientific information. It cannot happen at all without strong political leadership.
In November 2009, negotiators from nearly 190 countries will convene in Copenhagen to draft a climate change treaty to succeed the expiring Kyoto Protocol. We call upon world leaders to begin now to exchange serious proposals multilaterally while at the same time preparing their own publics for the commitments that will be required to make that treaty both politically possible and environmentally effective.
Our governments must recognize that climate change is a potentially devastating threat to our security and prosperity. It is not too late to act, but neither is it too soon for our best diplomats to get on with the job.
Madeleine K. Albright was US secretary of state from 1997 to 2001 and is currently principal of The Albright Group LLC. Niels Helveg Petersen served as Danish minister for foreign affairs from 1993 to 2000.
