Mary Robinson, UN Envoy: Climate Agenda Makes 2015 the ‘Most Important Year Since 1945’
Mary Robinson, the United Nations envoy on climate change, warns that the transition away from fossil fuels must happen immediately to achieve climate justice.
I am struck by the fact that Eleanor Roosevelt, and her commission, who drew up theDeclaration of Human Rights – a declaration adopted by every country in the world – never imagined that human-induced climate change might force whole countries to go out of existence.
We’re not on course for a safe world for millions of people and, even more seriously, for their children and grandchildren. We urgently need to change course and catalyse a transformation in the way we develop, the way we live, the way we do business.
Our current system is flawed and unsustainable and if it continues the world is on course for catastrophic climate change and vast inequality.
But let’s turn this on its head and make it positive, because we now know far better ways of doing things that could shape a more inclusive, equitable, sustainable and safe future for all. The transformative change needed [in response to] the impacts of climate is our opportunity to work for a much better and safer world.
Climate Justice
I’d like to talk to you about climate change from my perspective, which is one of justice, human rights and fairness, for people and their right to development are at the heart of the discussion.
I do so with humility because when I served as UN high commissioner of human rights in 1997 to 2002 climate change wasn’t front of my mind. I don’t recall making any major speech on climate change or making any link between climate change and human rights.
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