landing in Cancun

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As I join others in Cancun on the eve of COP 16 there is plenty of talk about the effects of the climate crisis as well as an expectation that this conference will not yield any type of concrete agreement.  The general feeling is that world leaders will continue to drag their feet as long as they can. The most interesting insight into the effects of climate change that I have heard today, however, came from a woman who is not even in Cancun to attend the conference.

This woman overheard a conversation I was having and told me something she and her husband had decided.  They plan to wait 5 years to see what progress is being made on climate change before they decide whether or not to have children.  If we are continuing down our current path of inaction they don’t believe it would be a good idea to bring more children into this world.  She continued on to mention the effects that climate change will have on future generations and her concern for the quality of life any children she may have would endure.  I asked her what progress she would need to see before deciding:  A large decrease in GHG emissions? A binding international agreement?  Advancements in clean energy?  But she explained it was more of a feeling, she has to feel as though it is a problem that is being handled.

For her sake (and for everyone’s sake) I hope that feeling begins to emerge over the coming days and months. I know we'll be working to turn things around. And, to that end, check out Gracias por Nada.

Ian Carey, Environmental Defence