Time will tell if the agreements secured by 196 nations in Paris in December will be the historic moment that we, the people of our world finally took control of our climate destiny. For the future of our planet and for our own well being let’s hope so.
But time is short and hope is all well and good – what is needed now is effective action. The promise of a future free from catastrophic climate change is now there for the taking – this is the promise of Paris. The Paris Agreement is a triumph of diplomacy – but it’s what happens as a result that will determine history’s verdict on the outcome. Since the signing of the agreement all shades of opinion have been aired, spanning the range from optimism to pessimism.
You can read, here, the views of our Principal Climate Change Advisor, John Lanchbery, written just before he left the Paris meeting. John is a veteran of climate conferences and concludes that there is much to be welcomed in the agreement. The ambition to aim well below a rise of 2°C in the global average temperature is sound – this matters for wildlife as for every 1°C rise one in ten species is doomed to eventual extinction.
Dartford warbler - a sentinel species affected by a changing climate, the UK is becoming and evermore vital refuge for this resident songbird. Photo Ben Hall rspb-images.com
The agreement is clear that forests and peatlands (which are vital in locking up carbon) are important; and this goes further to state the need for ‘ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems, including oceans and the protection of biodiversity’.
The London part of the largest global climate march. Photo: Nick Cunard - rspb-images.com
So – the long campaign to tackle the chaos of climate change has reached this point. To all of you who have taken part – thank you and take a bow. To the Government delegations in Paris – take pride in a good outcome.
And then, with all speed, get on with implementing the agreement. Much of the criticism and pessimism around the agreement centres on the lack of legally binding targets and the flow of money between nations.
This will require political commitment and real leadership. Campaigning for the right deal has come to an end – but the campaign to get the job done starts now.
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