Blogpost by greendaniel
- November 12, 2010 at 10:56 1 comment The
last two days, I, Daniel, the head of the
political team at Greenpeace International,
have been hanging out in Seoul, Korea. It´s
an impressive city. In the city centre you
can see as many people in designer ware
as in downtown Tokyo or New York.
But Korea is the first
country that isn´t part of the "rich
world club" (the G8) that is hosting
a G20 meeting. And it is making Koreans
visibly proud. At the airport, at tube stations,
in restaurants: Everywhere people are celebrating
Korea´s elevation to "big power
status". Flags are a must and people
in the street seem to have a spring in their
step.
What you will hear in
the press about this meeting is all about
money and trade. Korea, to their credit,
wanted the Summit to also focus on green
issues. They have been pushing for what
they call "green growth".
We at Greenpeace are
sceptical that you can deliver unlimited
growth on a finite planet. But we do know
for sure that we can deliver what everyone
needs while saving our climate. Our Energy
[R]evolution, for example, explains how
we can bring electricity to all and still
prevent dangerous climate change. It can
be done.
And here in Seoul, governments
sounded like they are starting to get it.
In their final communiqué they "commit
to stimulate investment in clean energy
technology". Sounds good, deosn´t
it.
Sadly, everything else
these governments did and said in Seoul
makes me think that they are not serious.
Just think: in the very same document they
fail to make any commitments to fight climate
change.
They could´t even
agree to keep global temperature rise below
a catastrohic threshold. They also shamefully
dragged their feet on a promise they made
last year to - at least - stop throwing
taxpayers money at climate destroying oil
and coal companies.
So, despite some fancy
green rhetoric, the G20 has in fact failed
the world. (Our full reaction to the final
outcome is here.) But let me end on a less
sombre note.
I happen to be German. And - true to stereotype
- I happen to love beer (though do make
it organic please). The bar pictured here
amused me therefore.
A German "Bier
Halle" (pub) right in the centre of
Seoul. Globalization can be a funny thing
sometimes.
I, however, stuck to
local food and beer myself. As a vegetarian,
I have to say I enjoyed the local "kimchi".
More than the (rather
weak) local beer ...
Next year, the G20 will
be meeting in France. I doubt I will find
a "Bier Halle" there. Will global
leaders do any better in addressing the
urgent problems of our world?
