The New Nation - Internet Edition

Syful Islam, New Delhi

A three day long congress of the International Federation of Environmental Journalists (IFEJ) began here yesterday at Indian Habitat Center with a call to cut emission substantially and reaching the developed nations to an effective agreement in Copenhagen.

Speakers of the congress in different sessions urged the US to reduce pollution instead of trying to make India and China as a party.

In her keynote address Sunita Narain, Editor, Down To Earth magazine, said if annual emissions remain at today's level, greenhouse gas levels would be close to 550 ppm by 2050 which will lead a temperature increase of 3-5°C.

She said the US has taken a stance of reducing pollution by 20 per cent from 2005 levels which is stabilisation at 1990 level. "We will take on emission reduction only if India and China are willing to join," she said referring US technical stance. "Actually US won't cut emission."

Sunita further said that China and India are trying to get the right to pollute. Terming climate change as economic and political challenge she raised question about the willingness of rich nations to bring down emission. "Climate change is related to economic growth. No one has built a low carbon economy. It is about sharing growth between nations and between people. The rich must reduce so that the poor can grow and create ecological space. Climate change is about cooperation. If the rich emitted yesterday, the emerging rich world will do today. Cooperation demands equity and fairness. It is a pre-requisite for an effective climate agreement," she said.

Ole Lonsmann Poulsen, Danish Ambassador to India, speaking as chief guest apprehended a negative social and environmental effect on failure to combat climate change. He said media can play a pivotal role to create awareness among people as well as in the negotiation.

Other speakers, experts and senior journalists from world media, urged bridging north-south differences in reporting climate change. They also said role of media is crucial to motivate the rich powers to cut down emission.

IFEJ president Darryl D'Monte presided over the programme while PN Vasanti, Director of CMS Academy of Communication and Convergence Studies gave vote of thanks.