Swiss President Moritz Leuenberger has called for the introduction of an
international tax on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to fight global warming.
Speaking in Nairobi at the United Nations Climate Conference on Wednesday,
Leuenberger said that such a levy would help those worst affected by climate
change.
The president explained that each individual and business would pay the tax
based on their CO2 emissions, with revenue going towards measures mitigating the
effects of global warming.
Leuenberger said that it would encourage major producers of CO2 to cut their
emissions and provide sufficient funding for the measures.
He added that the levy would also compensate those suffering from climate
change. "It is precisely those who so far have contributed the least to the
causes who are the most severely affected by [...] global warming," he said.
Leuenberger said it would be major step forward if the conference could discuss
the financing and the management of funds for different measures.
In his speech, the president admitted that there had been some progress over the
past decade in fighting climate change, but that efforts had been so far
insufficient.
"We have waited too long and we have lacked focus in our efforts to get to grips
with the problem," he said. "And with major disasters increasing by the day, we
have to talk about adaptation, namely how protect ourselves here and now against
threats."
Protection
Leuenberger warned that it was no longer enough to tackle the causes of global
warming, but that it was also necessary to protect people against imminent harm
as well deal with any consequences of climate change.
"We must combine our measures to prevent future global warming with our efforts
to tackle the current effects of natural disasters that have occurred," he
added.
The Swiss president also encouraged delegates to conclude negotiations on a
successor to the Kyoto protocol, which calls for signatories to cut CO2 and
other greenhouse gas emissions.
Leuenberger said that dealing with climate change was every nation's
responsibility, warning that countries that had refused to ratify Kyoto - such
as the United States and Australia – should reconsider their decision.
"Even the most powerful of countries cannot brave a natural disaster alone
because climate change with all its consequences, such as migratory and refugee
movements, knows no borders, not even those of the largest nations," he added.
The president concluded that the fight against global warming was not versus
nature, but against shortsighted egoism.
"It is a fight for solidarity, which rises above our differing economic and
national interests, to find a common way of reducing the disasters threatening
our planet," he said. "If we failed to do so, we and our children would all pay
the price."
Opening the meeting, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said it would cost less to
cut greenhouse gas emissions now than to deal with global warming in the long
run.
He also announced a plan by six UN agencies to help Africa receive funds for
clean development projects, such as renewable energy and forestry.