In the End (a word or two from the editor)

It must be hard for all scientists and climate change advocates in Europe and North America to even contemplate “global warming”, when they’re experiencing such freezing temperatures and major transport chaos due to snow and storms.

But whether we like it or not, the world is getting warmer, and the UK Met Office is telling its weather watchers (and listeners) that the current winter experience will become rarer in the future.  

Remember, the World Meteorological Organization said last month that 2000-2009 was the hottest decade since records began in 1850, and that 2009 would likely be the fifth warmest year on record. WMO data show that eight out of the 10 hottest years on record have all been since 2000.

But instead of sitting around enduring extreme weather conditions (parts of Australia have been experiencing “catastrophic” fire conditions this week), the world must sit up and do something about it.

Current political processes, globally and nationally, do not seem to be making a fist of climate change measures.

In my book “The ABC of Carbon”, I made a positive suggestion to set up a new international organisation, bringing together big business, global NGOs and key Government leaders. Here’s the relevant passage:

“Businesses have put into place policies and practices to cut emissions and energy use. No one has told the business community or industry what it must do, but they can see what’s on the horizon and they know that they have to share in the responsibility and the risks.

Business being business knows how to act decisively, even if not equipped with all the science it could do with. All credit to those business leaders — who know that leadership means taking risks and taking action. Taking action for their own good, as well as for their shareholders, partners, clients and customers.

Rupert Murdoch, Ray Anderson and Richard Branson would be three notables to stand out; their policies and declarations of action are noted elsewhere in this book.

It would make sense to get business people of their ilk to help form a new international organisation that brings together the energy and economic edge of business, the enthusiasm of NGOs and outstanding individuals, with the appropriate UN agencies, including the World Bank, to focus exclusively on carbon and climate change.

Let’s call it the International Carbon Enterprise, or ICE.”

When I first penned those words, I still had some hope that Bali and then Copenhagen would come up with some answers. More than a Roadmap. More than an Accord. A realistic and manageable plan for all countries (and businesses) to commit to. It hasn’t happened. And just as Professor Giddens says, maybe the current UN multi-lateral process must be bypassed.

So let’s not put another plan on ice. Let’s move to bring global business and global NGOs, together with the critical Governments (the major emitters) to form an action-oriented body. Now you’re talking and acting. Bring it on! – Ken Hickson