THE plan agreed at the United Nations talks in Lima, Peru is a key first step toward a global climate change agreement due to be finalised a year from now. It would be none too soon. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently warned again the world must act now to avoid irreversible damage.
Despite such clear warnings, many people believe economic growth and climate action are incompatible. The fact is, we can cut greenhouse gas emissions to avoid climate catastrophe and still enable strong economic growth. Countries vulnerable to floods, changing weather patterns, and other climate impacts such as Thailand/Bangladesh/Nepal/Sri Lanka/the Pacific Islands/Tajikistan would be key beneficiaries even if they are not big carbon emitters themselves.
Source: The Fiji Times Online