ID :
95634
Fri, 12/18/2009 - 18:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/95634
The shortlink copeid
Lee says Copenhagen meeting last chance to act on climate
By Byun Duk-kun
COPENHAGEN, Dec. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Thursday
called on world leaders to reach a consensus on how to fight climate change,
saying the meeting may be their last chance to avoid environmental chaos.
Lee noted the prevailing sentiment is that the world will once again fail to
reach an agreement on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but that there is
still hope for a last-minute breakthrough if the leaders decide to take a stand.
"There remains a glimmer of hope as more than 100 global leaders converge on the
talks. Such a concentration of leaders presents an historic opportunity to
finally reach a global consensus on ways to reduce our environmental impact," he
said in an op-ed contribution published online by a U.S.-based news outlet, the
Christian Science Monitor.
The South Korean president arrived here earlier in the day to address the U.N.
conference on climate on the eve of the summit.
While the phrase "me first" is normally associated with self-interest, Lee recast
it in his keynote speech Thursday, urging every nation to take initiative in
battling climate change.
"In order to find a solution to the global climate change, each and every country
must do what it can, starting now," he said in his article.
"If every country represented in Copenhagen decides to add a 'spoonful' of effort
and adopts a 'me first' attitude, we can overcome this enormous and critical
challenge," he said, citing an old Asian proverb that 10 spoons of rice make a
bowl.
The South Korean leader said his country, though a developing nation itself that
has no mandatory requirement to cut emissions, will start contributing by sharing
its development experience with other developing nations to make sure they don't
make the same mistake of sacrificing the environment for growth.
"We must ensure that these countries take a different path to development than
the roads taken by the developed countries," Lee said.
Seoul last month announced a voluntary target to cut emissions by 30 percent from
its forecast levels in 2020, the highest mitigation goal set by any developing
country.
"There really is no other alternative," Lee said in his opinion piece. "All of us
must act."
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
COPENHAGEN, Dec. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Thursday
called on world leaders to reach a consensus on how to fight climate change,
saying the meeting may be their last chance to avoid environmental chaos.
Lee noted the prevailing sentiment is that the world will once again fail to
reach an agreement on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but that there is
still hope for a last-minute breakthrough if the leaders decide to take a stand.
"There remains a glimmer of hope as more than 100 global leaders converge on the
talks. Such a concentration of leaders presents an historic opportunity to
finally reach a global consensus on ways to reduce our environmental impact," he
said in an op-ed contribution published online by a U.S.-based news outlet, the
Christian Science Monitor.
The South Korean president arrived here earlier in the day to address the U.N.
conference on climate on the eve of the summit.
While the phrase "me first" is normally associated with self-interest, Lee recast
it in his keynote speech Thursday, urging every nation to take initiative in
battling climate change.
"In order to find a solution to the global climate change, each and every country
must do what it can, starting now," he said in his article.
"If every country represented in Copenhagen decides to add a 'spoonful' of effort
and adopts a 'me first' attitude, we can overcome this enormous and critical
challenge," he said, citing an old Asian proverb that 10 spoons of rice make a
bowl.
The South Korean leader said his country, though a developing nation itself that
has no mandatory requirement to cut emissions, will start contributing by sharing
its development experience with other developing nations to make sure they don't
make the same mistake of sacrificing the environment for growth.
"We must ensure that these countries take a different path to development than
the roads taken by the developed countries," Lee said.
Seoul last month announced a voluntary target to cut emissions by 30 percent from
its forecast levels in 2020, the highest mitigation goal set by any developing
country.
"There really is no other alternative," Lee said in his opinion piece. "All of us
must act."
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
