Climate change is no more an abstract irritation.

Excerpts from his speech at a conference in New Delhi

In every battle you have frontlines. Today I report from the Maldives (a frontline on climate change), which is 1.5m from the sea and vulnerable to the rising and warming seas which threaten our country. Climate change is no more an abstract irritation.

“We have a written history for over 2000 years and do not want to trade our paradise to a climate refugee camp. What happens to the Maldives today happens to the rest of the world tomorrow.”

In the future the monsoon will become more irregular. The developing world did not contribute to the crisis and not responsible for the 100 years of emissions, but the dangers of climate change means that we cannot consider this to be someone else’s problem. We are one on this fight.

As Copenhagen looms and as negotiators search for a frantic solution, it is easy to assume that we can solve this problem between a compromise with India and the US or China and the EU or any other political bloc. I’m suggesting we cut carbon and consume renewables instead.

When millions start to suffer because of climate change it is people in India and the Maldives which will die first. With a rise of 1.5 degrees, we won’t be around. CO2 in the air is 387ppm and is rising.

Fudged climate change deals or half measures are not required. 350ppm prevents irreversible catastrophic effects on account of climate change. To bring emissions down to 350ppm requires political action that few politicians want to talk about. We need to peak global emissions now instead of the next 20-30 years.

How do we forge a deal which protects the planet? Such a deal must start with an international framework in place and common but differentiated responsibilities set in the Kyoto protocol, which is the only way to strike a fair deal to solve the climate change crisis.

Rich nations must make dramatic changes. The average American produces 23 tons of CO2 per year. We in the developing world, say we are innocent of climate crime, but with each passing year as our emissions soar, we are part of the crisis. We can develop and also stay clean. The climate problem is great, developing nations must embrace renewable tech and if we think about it …it makes sense.

For developing countries it means that our future growth must be green. The one problem with the Kyoto process is that it is a prohibitive list….a list which states that you should not let emissions rise open new power plants in short…stop living. There is nothing more than we politicians like than cutting ribbons, but we are suggesting that we can cut ribbons if we make this green ribbons to RE plants.

We plant to be carbon neutral, will offset emissions and switch to 100% RE target. Countries that have the foresight to become green today will capitalize the green economy of the future.