The issue of climate change is gaining increasing attention but even though its disastrous long term effects are predictable through authentic scientific research and events that are taking place today the urgency to deal with it in a comprehensive and decisive manner seems to be absent. What is very worrisome is that many of the countries that are among the worst polluters are showing scant interest and are demonstrating a great degree of ambivalence on such a crucial issue.

It seems ironical that these countries are more concerned with the costs of curbing greenhouse gas emissions rather than the costs of not working towards reduction.

David Crane in his article The Three Stooges of global climate change points out:

“The urgency of dealing with climate change is not going to go away. It is only going to get worse. Moreover, the longer we delay in getting truly serious, the greater the cost of curbing emissions and adapting to the impact of greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere.”

“While politicians, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper, wring their hands over the costs of curbing greenhouse gas emissions, they foolishly ignore the costs of not curbing them.”

“It was the Swedish Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, who told the recent U.N. High-Level Conference on climate change, “we need decisive and global political action to prevent further dangerous changes to our climate system and to adapt to the consequences that are inevitable.”

Indeed, the consequences will be inevitable if we do not act with the required urgency.

According to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) data showing Arctic sea ice may reach its lowest level on record this summer underscores the need for governments to speed up talks on a new climate pact, the Worldwide Fund for Nature said.

The WWF said observations on ice coverage and thickness pointed toward a record low for the second year in a row, continuing a “catastrophic” trend that could threaten polar wildlife and accelerate global warming.

“If you take reduced ice thickness into account, there is probably less ice overall in the Arctic this year than in any other year since monitoring began,” said Martin Sommerkorn, senior climate adviser of the WWF’s Arctic programme. “If you take reduced ice thickness into account, there is probably less ice overall in the Arctic this year than in any other year since monitoring began,” said Martin Sommerkorn, senior climate adviser of the WWF’s Arctic program.”

“This is also the first year that the Northwest Passage over the top of North America and the Northeast Passage over the top of Russia, are both free of ice,” he said.

The U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Centre said earlier this month that Arctic sea ice coverage was the second lowest on record, and could break last year’s low mark before the season is over. Satellite measurements began in 1979.

Last month, a scientist at Trent University in Ontario, Canada, reported that a chunk of ice shelf nearly the size of Manhattan broke away from Ellesmere Island in Canada’s northern Arctic, another dramatic indication of how warmer temperatures are changing the polar frontier.

“There are already signs that species such as polar bears are experiencing negative effects as climate change erodes the ice platform on which they rely,” Sommerkorn said. “These changes are also affecting the peoples of the Arctic whose traditional livelihoods depend on healthy ecosystems.”

The amount of scientific evidence that underlines the seriousness of this is voluminous and overwhelming but those who possess the financial and scientific and technological resources seem to lack the will and commitment to deal with the issue apparently putting short term economic considerations in front.

On the other hand the small and developing countries which lack resources seem more inclined towards tackling the issue, notably Guyana has been in the forefront in this regard with President Jagdeo aggressively articulating and marketing our LCDS, which is increasingly gaining accolades throughout the world.

Only recently internationally acclaimed expert on Reducing Carbon Avoid Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD), Dr Martin Herold said that a Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) is the right avenue to avoid an increasing carbon emissions profile and associated loss of forest as part of a country achieving its developmental objectives.

Noting that he has seen numerous examples of countries that have generated significant emissions while transitioning to emerging economies, Dr Herold said he would like to “particularly congratulate Guyana for having taken steps to deviate from this pathway towards a more climate-friendly direction”.

“In this context, Guyana is on the forefront internationally and has generated significant interest and attention…including those countries willing to support Guyana in its efforts,” he said.

So while some of our locals are busy trying to paint a picture that the LCDS is somewhat like “building castles” in the air” the reality is quite the opposite because the Strategy is being increasingly accepted, throughout the globe, as being practical and realistic and should form a major part of the overall strategy in grappling with the crucial issue of climate change.