World leaders on Friday in Davos called for attention not to be diverted from climate change issues, even though the topic of the economic crisis will dominate much of 2009.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and other participants at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland warned that concerns about the economy should not overshadow the need to address climate change, as these two issues are interconnected.
Participants in the discussion in Davos assessed that alternative energies, which should replace oil, coal, and other sources of energy that release carbon dioxide and pollute, will bring significant economic benefits and stimulate the economy. Ban compared the spread of “green technologies” to “killing two birds with one stone,” while Brown emphasized that climate change will be a prominent topic at the upcoming G20 meeting in April, as it is crucial for the recovery of the global economy.
“During 2009, the main obstacle on the road to Copenhagen could be the financial crisis,” said Danish Prime Minister Anders Rasmussen. In December, representatives from most countries will gather in Copenhagen to try to reach a new climate agreement. “We must get it right in Copenhagen; there is no second chance,” said Yvo De Boer, head of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. “We must decide to put a price on carbon,” said Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States, adding that President Barack Obama will play a positive role in combating climate change. (Hina)
