U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned leaders of the developed world for what he believes are lackluster efforts to address so-called climate change. Johnson was particularly upset about the lack of promised funding of $100 billion per year to underdeveloped countries to address climate change in their own nations. Johnson made the remarks on Monday at a climate meeting at the United Nations ahead of a meeting of the General Assembly.
The $100 billion per year pledge was originally made in 2009 and then again at the Paris Climate Summit in 2015. According to a “frustrated” Johnson, most countries are not living up to their monetary commitments regarding climate change.
“Over the past year we’ve come together many times to discuss climate change,” Johnson said. “So you know by now how this conversation goes.”
Johnson continued, “I talk about the need to rid the world of coal-fired power and internal combustion engines, the need to stop deforestation, and for developed nations to find that $US100 billion.”
It must have been a bitter irony for Johnson to have to speak about coal-fired power after his own nation was forced to call on its own coal-fired power plants to keep the lights on when renewable energy sources in Great Britain utterly failed to keep up with energy demands this year.
Yet, Johnson went on: “And everyone nods and we all agree that something must be done. Yet I confess I’m increasingly frustrated that the ‘something’ to which many of you have committed is nowhere near enough,” the prime minister said.
“And while progress is being made all over the world, the gulf between what has been promised, what is actually being delivered, and what needs to happen — it remains vast.”
Johnson warned all nations of the possible danger associated with climate change.
“It’s a diplomacy issue, a security issue, a trade issue,” the PM said. “And in the years to come, the only great powers will be green powers.”
“If you abdicate responsibility today, do you think those who pay the price for that decision will rally to your side tomorrow?” Johnson asked rhetorically.
“Will they work with you, borrow from you, stand with you if you tell the world that you don’t care whether their land and their people slip below the waves? These countries need allies. They need help now, that’s why I stress the $US100 billion so much.”
Apparently the prime minister hasn’t heard the good news about the Maldives and many other low-lying countries actually expanding in acreage over the past several decades.
While Johnson didn’t name nations that need to do better, it’s certainly likely that he lumps the United States in with those not doing enough after President Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2017. Joe Biden, however, quickly jumped back on the Paris bandwagon when inaugurated in January, and is expected to announce a large monetary commitment on behalf of America when he speaks to the General Assembly.
Johnson did say that it would “send a massively powerful signal” if the United States would pony up funds for the made-up crisis but also insisted “we are not counting our chickens,” on the subject.
Biden’s climate envoy, former Secretary of State John Kerry, told Sky News that a U.S. contribution to the fund should be made by the time COP 26 rolls around in November. “I think we’re going to get it done by COP [which will occur in Scotland in November], and the US will do its part.”
“I’m telling you to stay tuned into the president’s speech, and we’ll see where we are,” Kerry teased.
Johnson plans to use this week in the United States to gain support for the upcoming UN-sponsored COP 26 in Glasgow in November. The conference has been beset with worries over COVID-19, but appears to still be a go for November.
“COP26 will be staged in the full glare of the global spotlight,” Johnson said. “And when the summit ends, when most of the world has committed to decisive, game-changing action, it will be clear to all which of us has lacked the courage to step up.”
Johnson then issued a warning: “The world will see, and your people will remember, and history will judge.”
If Johnson, or any other climate alarmist leader, were truly concerned about global warming caused by mankind’s carbon emissions, he wouldn’t be stumping for a gigantic climate conference where leaders and their flunkies from all over the world fly in on carbon-spewing private jets. After all, in this day and age there are far more energy efficient ways to meet, aren’t there?
The actions of leaders such as Johnson speak far louder than their words ever could.
