Climate Change Summit Calls for 'Noah's Ark'
An idea was suggested in response to the rising sea levels caused by the warming planet during the “Global Climate Summit” in South Africa - build Noah’s ark.
Christian Aid called on governments attending the summit to come together and negotiate a global treaty to curb carbon emissions.
Mohamed Adow, Christian Aid's senior adviser on climate change, urged decision makers to take inspiration from the Biblical story of Noah.
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He said, "I want to use an analogy from the Holy Scriptures where the prophet Noah builds the ark. We want parties to help build us an ark here, an ark that is going to be strong enough to be able to overcome the challenges and the obstacles that are being thrown at the parties.”
The Kyoto Protocol’s first phase is set to expire next year. This protocol is the only international law to protect and monitor the global emissions and their effect on climate change. Currently at the summit, countries are discussing whether to follow through with previous promises to negotiate a second phase of the legislation that would state emission limits countries would adhere to. The second option would be to implement a voluntary system that would not be legally binding.
Adow explained the ark would be “one that will be based on the best architectural design, one that is fit for the job that needs to be done and can adapt to the challenges we are working under and deliver not just now but for the changing conditions in the future.”
He continues, “The science is quite clear and we know the impacts of climate change are real and are happening today."
The summit is scheduled to last two weeks and started on Nov. 28. It will play host to representatives from more than 190 countries. They will attend meetings to discuss how to cut global carbon emissions and to develop a Green Climate Fund. This fund would have developed countries provide resources to poorer nations to help them adapt to the effects of climate change.
Climate Justice Campaign Manager Laura Trevelyan for Christian Aid in Durban wrote: “The poorest are affected first and worst by a changing climate and this is a huge injustice, but to tackle this we must remember that we are all in the same boat, we sink or swim together.”
She urged the parties attending the conference to come together and take action.
