Copenhagen failed because of 'irresponsible attitude' of rich nations - Hugo Chavez

In a hard-hitting speech at Copenhagen, an extract of which is reproduced below, Venezuela's President placed the blame for the summit's failure squarely on the rich nations.

CLIMATE change is undoubtedly the most devastating environmental problem of this century. Floods, droughts, severe storms, hurricanes, melting ice caps, rise in mean sea levels, ocean acidification and heatwaves, all of these sharpen the impact of the global crisis besetting us.

Current human activity exceeds the threshold of sustainability, endangering life on the planet, but also in this we are profoundly unequal.

I want to recall: 7% of the world's population, the 500 million richest people, are responsible for 50% of emissions, while the poorest 50% account for only 7% of emissions.

So it strikes me as a bit strange to put the United States and China at the same level. The United States has just, well, it will soon reach 300 million people. China has nearly five times the US population. The United States consumes more than 20 million barrels of oil a day, China only reaches 5-6 million barrels a day. You can't ask the same of the United States and China.

There are issues to discuss;  hopefully we the heads of state and government can sit down and discuss the truth, the truth about these issues.

So, Mr President, 60% of the planet's ecosystems are damaged, 20% of the earth's crust is degraded, we have been impassive witnesses to deforestation, land conversion, desertification, deterioration of fresh water systems, overexploitation of marine resources, pollution and loss of biodiversity.

The overuse of the land exceeds by 30% the capacity to regenerate it. The planet is losing what the technicians call the ability to regulate itself. Every day more waste than can be processed is released. The survival of our species hammers in the consciousness of humanity. Despite the urgency, it has taken two years of negotiations for a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, and we attend this event without any real and meaningful agreement.

And indeed, on the text that comes from out of the blue, as some have called it, Venezuela says, and the ALBA countries, the Bolivarian Alliance say, that we will not accept any other texts that do not come from working groups under the Kyoto Protocol and the Convention. They are the legitimate texts that we have been discussing so intensely over the years.

And in these last few hours, I believe you have not slept, plus you have not eaten. It does not seem logical to me to come out now with a document from scratch, as you say.

The scientifically substantiated objective of reducing the emission of polluting gases and achieving an agreement on long-term cooperation clearly, today at this time, has apparently failed to be realised, for now.

What is the reason? We have no doubt.

The reason is the irresponsible attitude and lack of political will from the most powerful nations on the planet. No one should feel offended; I recall the great Jos‚ Gervasio Artigas when he said: 'With the truth, I neither offend nor fear.'

But it is actually an irresponsible attitude of positions, of reversals, of exclusions, of elitist management of a problem that belongs to everyone and that we can only solve together.

The political conservatism and selfishness of the largest consumers, of the richest countries shows high insensitivity and lack of solidarity with the poor, the hungry, and the most vulnerable to disease, to natural disasters. Mr President, a new and single agreement is essential, applicable to absolutely unequal parties, according to the magnitude of their contributions and economic, financial and technological capabilities and based on unconditional respect for the principles contained in the Convention.

Developed countries should set binding, clear and concrete commitments for the substantial reduction of their emissions and assume obligations of financial and technological assistance to poor countries to cope with the destructive dangers of climate change. In this respect, the uniqueness of island states and least developed countries should be fully recognised.                                        

The above is extracted from the translated full text of President Chavez's speech available on Venezuelanalysis.com.

*Third World Resurgence No. 233, January 2010, p 25