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A positive outcome of the climate conference does not mean saving the world!
© Vladimir Ya / Shutterstock
The climate issue is now omnipresent and it is impossible to imagine the party agendas around the world without it. No wonder that the current climate conference causes a huge media turmoil. But what is actually behind this mega event? Our author sees more appearance than reality in the emotional speeches.
One thing should be clear to us: a positive outcome of the climate conference does not mean that the world has suddenly been saved. However, the participants want to convey this impression and thus put themselves in a positive light.
100 states pledge to stop deforestation
Take, for example, the issue of the destruction of forests. 100 countries have pledged to stop the deforestation of the world’s vital “lungs” by 2030. The participating countries include Germany, the entire EU, but also Canada, Russia, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia as well as China, Norway and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
At first glance, I would also say: Great! Great idea! But wasn’t there something like “stopping the deforestation”? Yes, in 2014 at the UN climate change meeting in New York. There the participants had already announced that they would cut deforestation in half by 2020 and stop it by 2030. Not only is the goal not new, it has not yet been met at all.
Climate target already missed: Instead of decreasing, deforestation is increasing
Deforestation, especially in Brazil, continued unchecked. According to a WWF study, forest destruction even increased by 150 percent during the corona pandemic. So where exactly is the added value of the decision? Unfortunately I don’t see him. Rather, the newly set target in 2030 shows only one thing: a free ticket for deforestation as before and that for another nine years. As a reminder every minute, a forest area the size of 27 soccer fields is lost in the world.
The second major media focus was on the decision that 80 countries have joined an initiative by the USA and the EU to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas methane by 30 percent by 2030. US President Joe Biden already proudly whistled into the cameras that the goal could still be exceeded. But where is the focus in reducing the gas? For the time being, it is kept quiet.
Climate conference: only big speeches but no deeds
There are big speeches and promises that are made at the climate conference, but everything just scratches the surface. It is said what people want to hear – concrete plans remain open.
The topic of deforestation and the reduction of methane emissions have a lot more to do with each other than one might think. One of the biggest methane polluters are dairy cows and cattle with a gas production of 100 kilograms per year. In Germany alone there are 11.18 million cattle and 3.89 million dairy cows (as of 2021). There are around 999.66 million cattle worldwide.
This huge mass of animals has to eat – and not just grass. Cows and cattle have entire rainforests in their stomachs. Many animals are fed soy. Fields in the rainforest are burned free for cultivation. So it is a miserable cycle of human lust for the flesh and destruction of the environment. Whether the buffets in Glasgow are vegan or at least vegetarian? I strongly doubt it.
Climate change: the consequences are real! Finally take it seriously!
Many do not want to see the consequences of climate change. And I admit, it is sometimes difficult for me to keep track of the consequences when I look out of my bedroom window and this calm green world lies in front of me – still! But we remember the flood disaster a few months ago, tornadoes on the German coast, heat waves in summer that burned up the fields and hardly any snow in winter, the whole thing is real and is getting closer and closer to ours quite ideal world.
We mustn’t forget one thing: The topic of climate change is not just about saving our planet, but about ourselves. In a video clip that appeared shortly before the conference, a dinosaur speaks in front of a plenary Tacheles: “We had at least one asteroid what is your excuse? ” Do we have one? Are the empty words of the heads of government enough for us? Not me. We have talked enough and set goals – now it’s time to act. Because I agree with the dinosaur: “Extinction is a pretty stupid thing!”
Sources used: br.de, statista.de, tagesschau.de, wwf.de, zeit.de