Nations squabble over who’s responsible for solving climate change
Last week, more than 100 countries approved a report saying humans are causing climate change and it’s time to find solutions. Remember that show of harmony? Well, cherish the memory, because now some of those countries are rushing to explain why they can’t be the ones to find a fix. As U.S. officials publicly balk at emissions caps and Germany shies away from vehicle regulations, leaders from developing countries are pointing fingers at the rich. Climate change “has been caused by the long-term historic emissions of developed countries and their high per capita emissions,” said China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu, who said such nations “bear an unshirkable responsibility” for leading the charge. And Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticized wealthy countries’ tendency to “[approve] protocols, [hold] big speeches” with few results, saying he would lead a campaign to spotlight the need for rich countries to cut emissions. Hey, world: go ahead and posture. We’ve got time.
