Gore says, change laws, not just light bulbs

Al Gore, politician, turned climate campaigner, has urged policymakers worldwide to: change the laws “not just light bulbs” in the quest to tackle the global warming situation. An official from the UN stated that, turmoil in the world markets must not be allowed to delay any action.

The annual gathering of many influential, world business and political leaders, in Davos, Switzerland, has scheduled a record breaking number of workshops, and sessions with an emphasis on the global warming issue. The recent large downturn in the market and growing fears of a recession has been dominating the discussions.

Head of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Rajendra Pachauri, stated that: “If we get distracted by the aberrations that you see in the financial market right now it would clearly be very unfortunate.”

Al Gore, in a fairly obvious shot at President Bush’s environmental record, said that the upcoming election of a new president, in the United States this November, could only bring about an improvement.

Gore told fellow delegates, seemingly in reference to what he sees as the US government’s reluctance to bring about legislation on environmental controls. “In addition to changing the light bulbs, it is far more important to change the laws and to change the treaty obligations that nations have,”

And also that: “Whoever is elected is going to have a different position and a better position. But let’s be clear: whoever the leaders are, this issue is going to be dealt with responsibly and effectively only when there is a sufficient degree of urgency on the part of the people themselves.”

The Davos meetings provide an opportunity for politicians, and multi-national business leaders, to discuss the costs to industry, and at the world’s economies, of trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are believed to be the cause of global warming.

Peter Brabeck who is Chief Executive of Nestle, brought up one of the more sensitive ecological issues, namely, the production of bio diesel. The so-called “green” fuel produced from crops such as sugar and maize.

He said that: “the drive for bio fuels and industrial usage could severely deplete water resources. Action should be taken to create a market for water to drive conservation”.
And: “It takes 9,000 litres of water to produce one litre of bio diesel. This strategy, which is not the right one, is backed by all major governments.”

The quickly growing demand for bio fuels in the US, and in Europe, is also contributing to rises the cost of many agricultural products, such as maize, and soya.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation at the meetings in Davos has said, the economic slowdown, and possible recession in the United States, and other rich countries, would not have an impact on food prices, at least in the short term.