by Sea Shepherd’s Captain Paul Watson
COP 21 – The Positives and the Negatives
The positive: (1) The attention of the world has been focused on the issue of climate change. (2) The issue has been given great credibility through the recognition and participation of 195 nations. (3) there will most likely be a surge in support for alternative energy technologies. (4) It could have been worst.
The negatives: (1) Having attended these international conferences since 1972 I’ve yet to see any past agreements translated… into action. So we shall see. Promises are cheap. (2) the Ocean was virtually ignored. (3) Oxygen depletion was completely ignored as was phytoplankton diminishment. (4) the issue of animal agriculture was not only ignored it, the food concessions at the events contradicted that concern 100%. Serving fish and chips during an ocean forum and hamburgers at forums dealing with greenhouse gas emissions was a disconnect that was painfully obvious. You would think the delegates and the NGO’s could have weathered a meat free two weeks considering that the animal agriculture industry slaughtering 65 billion animals a year produces more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transportation industry. (5) and no one wanted to hear about cutting off the 75 + billion dollar government subsidies to the industrialized fishing industry.
In the agreement signed in the COP21 climate deal: the words “fossil fuels” do not appear. Neither do the words “oil” or “coal.” I find that quite revealing.
My two solutions to address climate change were two solutions that no one wanted to hear. (1) shut down industrialized fishing and allow the ocean ecosystems to repair themselves. And (2) convert the majority of the 7.5. billion humans on the planet to a plant based diet.
My summation is that this watered down agreement is too little, too late, and what is on paper will most likely not see any realistic application in practice.
Hopefully I will be proven wrong.
Also: James Hansen, father of climate change awareness, calls Paris talks ‘a fraud’
The former Nasa scientist criticizes the talks, intended to reach a new global deal on cutting carbon emissions beyond 2020,
“It’s a fraud really, a fake,” he says, rubbing his head. “It’s just bullshit for them to say: ‘We’ll have a 2C warming target and then try to do a little better every five years.’ It’s just worthless words. There is no action, just promises. As long as fossil fuels appear to be the cheapest fuels out there, they will be continued to be burned.”
Exposing the Big Game 
The pressure was building to acknowledge climate change and respond to it, so governments were forced to at least give the illusion they were acting. I haven’t read the information that Captain Watson discusses, but I’m thinking that just looking at one country, India, emphasizes the magnitude of the work ahead. As of 2013, the population of India was 1.252 billion and growing. Apparently more than 70% of India’s electricity is produced by coal. Most of the power plants do not have the latest technologies and use a low-grade, high-waste coal. Millions of people apparently do not even have that electricity yet but want it. The middle class in India is growing along with their income and consumer choices. Apparently one of the biggest growing demands is for meat. Bad news for the animals and for the resulting waste and methane. So with the demands growing for the very things that are causing climate problems and need to cut back, how will the government respond and deal with the discontent of millions who fear being left behind in a zero-sum game?
“The negatives: (1) Having attended these international conferences since 1972 I’ve yet to see any past agreements translated… into action.”
Me neither! All they do is talk, talk.
By our combined actions, I have always said “we humans are the cancer on our planet.” What will it take to heal this cancer? How do humans heal cancer within their own body?
For bodies it is complete removal of cancer cells, changing poor behaviors into healthy behaviors- such as horrible diets to healthy diets, regular exercise, inner strength, belief in higher power, self love, forgiveness of self and others, the list is varied for those who were successful in self healing.
What will it take for the cancer we cause on our planet to heal? Do any world leaders have the inner strength, ability to change poor behaviors into healthy ones, regular exercise of these new behaviors , belief that human kind is intrinsically good, belief in higher power- that we humans are not above natural laws, and love for self and others – like their own children? Do world leaders have these traits enough to risk their own temporary profit (status quo) to do what is best for the survival of our planet and their own children?
The answer remains to be seen. If world leaders act on their promises, the answer is perhaps yes, and hopefully in time. If they do not act, then they will have failed themselves, their children, all other humans , and last but NOT least, our animal co-inhabitants and our planet.
It is not, however only up to the world leaders. We must succeed at these inner changes as well, and then demand that our world leaders act on behalf of all life on Earth.
Pingback: Planet Fireball and the Paris Climate Talks - Earth in Transition