Climate talks in Copenhagen not a failure, but a chance
for minds to meet
By S Ramesh | Posted: 02 May
2010 2157 hrs
SINGAPORE : The climate change talks held in Copenhagen
last year weren't a complete failure but a chance for minds to
meet, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.
But Mr Lee does not think much will come out from the next round of
talks to be held in Cancun, as long as countries like the US, China
and India keep to their stand on the issue.
He was speaking at the 20th annual conference of the Inter-Pacific
Bar Association on the theme "climate change and legal practice" -
the first major event at the Marina Sands Convention Centre.
Mr Lee described climate change as something that has real
consequences many years down the road.
"The biggest problem with Copenhagen (talks) is the US could not
commit itself because it has to go through Congress, and the
Americans are not prepared to say before hand we commit ourselves
to reduction of "X" per cent of our carbon footprint, even if they
were prepared to commit themselves," said MM Lee.
"I don't think the Chinese and the Indians would commit themselves.
I see more dilly-dallying internationally with every country
focused on its own internal problems. So we are into a very
difficult, messy series of annual meetings," he added.
Elaborating on why climate change agreement did not materialise, Mr
Lee said: "The problem is governments; the government stays in
power not by promising to cut down growth rates, but by promising a
better life… So the idea of taking tough action now against putting
off to the future generation, the result is - let's put it off and
talk about it."
Climate change was not the only issue participants at the
Inter-Pacific Bar Association conference were interested in. They
also wanted Mr Lee's views on the future of China and India, and
whether the Doha Round of talks would move forward.
"I think the Doha Round is not going to go anywhere as long as this
(US) Congress will not pass the laws," said Mr Lee.
And there was also the often asked question of how Singapore can
help countries like China and India develop.
"The first thing you learn as a small country is to act small and
humble. You go around telling people, they say you are out of your
depth, you don't understand my problems. So we keep our mouth shut
unless we are asked," said Mr Lee.
The four-day conference will also discuss the challenges posed by
climate change to various sectors such as aviation. - CNA
/ls