It is clear to all, who tramples on the climate consensus: However, on the “Petersberg climate dialogue” mentioned by the German Chancellor Donald Trump is not a word. A clear Statement comes from the Fiji Islands.
Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama knows that he will get in this year so much attention from the world public opinion as never before. He is the head of government of the Fiji Islands and the presidency of the UN climate change conference in November, which takes place in Bonn. In a year of great uncertainty about the future of the world community in the fight against greenhouse gases.
The head of government from the South Pacific also knows the reason: “We have an elephant in the room”, says Bainimarama on the “Petersberg climate dialogue” in Berlin on Tuesday. It is obvious to everyone who the elephant is: U.S. President Donald Trump, who had spoken in the election, with climate change as an invention of the Chinese. He, too, leaves open whether he wants to terminate the 2015 closed-new Paris climate Treaty.
Presidency: Fiji. Host: Germany
The approximately 30 States that are represented on the “Petersberg climate dialogue” in Berlin, want to prepare for the next UN climate conference, with Bainimarama as Chairman. On the Fiji Islands itself is not a conference centre, which can accommodate 20 000 participants of a UN conference on climate change.
“There’s an elephant in the room” – the Prime Minister of Fiji-the island speaks clearly, Angela Merkel listens to.
So Germany will be a silent host in November, and Fiji runs the business. The German help where they can. They have brought the Premier and his staff already with the previous hosts of the climate conferences, for the exchange of experience. All want to avoid the impression that Bainimarama takes over just for the cameras, in the chair. He has entrusted his eloquent UN Ambassador Nazhat Shameem Khan with the conference preparation. Behind the Scenes is heard, the Fiji Delegation is a good example of how self-aware are also the poorest countries, play now on the big climate stage.
Merkel: a Lot of the doubters.
In front of the Prime Minister of Fiji explore the island mentioned, the Chancellor of Trump but not a word. She says instead of how she was happy that finally the small island States to lead a UN conference on climate change: “climate change threatens a state much more immediate if it is made up of 300 Islands and in the tropical climate of the South Pacific is,” says Angela Merkel. And then speaks of the great euphoria that prevailed in Paris in 2015. At the time when the States agreed to limit global warming to below two degrees, but preferably not more than 1.5 degrees. With the voice of the United States.
Merkel recalled that it is mainly the small island States such as Fiji, which insisted on the more ambitious 1.5 degrees target at the time. Only at the very end of her speech, Merkel touches on the new big enemy of all the climate talks, the man in the White house: “I’m trying to convince doubters. In the process, work still remains.” A typical Merkel-set.
China as a pioneer
The Problem with the US apart, is not the mood at the climate talks in Berlin not so bad. As in the recent past, China plays a constructive role: negotiator Xie Zhenhua promises to comply with the Paris Treaty in any case – even if the US withdraw. For many years, UN climate talks on the mutual Blockade of China, and the United States – the world’s largest polluter of greenhouse gases – failed. Now Xie explained the plans of his country:
China’s negotiator Xie Zhenhua in addition to the German environment Minister, Barbara Hendricks
32 million jobs were created through the transformation of the energy economy in China, 69 million will be in 2030: “Our practice shows that Economic growth and the Expansion of renewable energies go Hand-in-Hand.” The same result also in a study by the Organisation for economic cooperation and development, which was presented in Berlin: The authors come to the conclusion that investments in climate protection, economic growth and the omission of climate protection to growth losses.
It was decided in Berlin. Peter Berger talks are an informal Meeting of countries which want to go forward in climate protection. This Format has proven to be quite, because it brings, months before the major UN conferences of decision-makers to the table. And the are as safe as never before: Donald Trump, we don’t let us stop you. Also when is acting like a bull in a China shop.