US must not ignore global warming

AS leaders of the world’s richest nations meet around the table at the G8 summit today, the major issue on the agenda will be poverty in Africa.

But that question is inextricably linked with other issues of no less importance, namely fair trade and global warming.

It remains to be seen how much if any progress there will be on these contentious matters. For EU leaders trade is a political hot potato while America has yet to face up to the reality of climate change.

If the threat of global warming is minimised, it will play into the hands of US President George W Bush whose close personal links with the oil industry have compromised his office.

Under his leadership, the US continues to ignore warnings that climate change is an even greater threat to the world than terrorism. Doubtless, the regrettable clashes between protesters and police protecting the G8 leaders will reinforce the Bush view that anyone who disagrees with America must be a terrorist.

As former President Mary Robinson observed at a climate change conference in Edinburgh yesterday, the time has come for G8 leaders to acknowledge that climate change comes about as a result of the policies of the largest countries.

Making poverty history is a two edged-sword. Serious moral, economic and political issues must be faced by African and western leaders alike.

Besides lifting the financial burden from debt-ridden African countries, western nations must radically change oil and gas guzzling energy policies, remove trade barriers and agree fairer terms for goods coming from poorer countries.

Wiping the slate clean of debt must be contingent on better governance and transparency among African regimes. In this context, an overwhelming case exists for members of the African Union to condemn and, if necessary, combat ruthless dictatorships that wage war on their own people.

However, despite paying lip service to such principles, the leaders of neighbouring countries, including South Africa, have conveniently turned a blind eye to the appalling situation currently unfolding in Zimbabwe where the state is waging potential genocide.

To their shame, other African leaders remain tight-lipped, stubbornly refusing to condemn the manic actions of President Robert Mugabe. Inevitably, their silence will be seen as tacit approval of his cynical policy of making tens of thousands of political opponents homeless by literally bull-dozing their houses.

Thanks to Ms Robinson, the former UN Human Rights Commissioner, the vexed issue of climate change is now centre stage. As president of the charity Oxfam she is well placed to point the finger at the rich nations as the culprits behind a rapidly growing crisis.

There is no denying greenhouse gases produced by industrialised nations are the primary cause of global warming. But while most G8 leaders acknowledge the reality of climate change, it is doubtful if Ms Robinson’s words will persuade Mr Bush to change course.

Arguably, if the US was prepared to take its head out of the sands and endorse the scientific evidence that global warming is happening, that in itself would represent significant progress.

The stubborn refusal of Mr Bush to accept

Kyoto-style measures, because they would impact negatively on the US economy, typifies the selfish attitude of the biggest polluter on the planet.

Tackling climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions is every bit as important as cancelling debt and increasing aid for poor countries. It is high time the US accepted that global warming is the result of a profligate use of energy.