Climate Change Talks: Philippine Representative in Tears Over Haiyan, Receives Standing Ovation
(Source: Youtube/Thedailyconversation)
Typhoon Haiyan has dampened the spirits of climate change negotiators in an international talk on global climate change treaty in Warsaw. Delegates from around the world quickly suggested that the monster typhoon that wreaked havoc in the Philippines was enhanced by global warming.
Typhoon Haiyan has left Vietnam and is now on its way to China at a reduced strength. The super storm has displaced over 600,000 families in the Philippines leaving most of Tacloban City devastated.
Lead negotiator for an alliance of small island nations Olai Ngedikes said that Typhoon Haiyan should be a "stark reminder" of the lack of action among governments in the world. He said the typhoon should motivate climate change negotiators to push an agreement in Warsaw.
Philippine representative to the UN climate change talks, Naderev Sano said he would fast or refrain from eating in solidarity with typhoon victims or until a meaningful solution will be reached. Mr Sano said the effect of climate change is madness. He added they can put an end to the madness by arriving at an agreement in Warsaw.
His declaration moved many of the climate negotiators to tears and he was given a standing ovation.
However, climate scientists continue to be careful of associating extreme storms like Typhoon Haiyan and climate change. They claimed there is lack of data to support the theory and draw conclusions from a particular storm.
Climate scientists generally agree that storms will become more powerful in time as the climate continues to change. According to James P. Kossin, a National Climactic Data Center atmospheric scientist, Typhoon Haiyan may be reminiscent of future weather disturbances.
The level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased rapidly in 2012 compared to its average rise in the past ten years based on a new report. The carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has broken records, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
Countries prepared for a new round of talks on climate change to agree to a deal for 2015 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Christiana Figueres, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Head,said that the painful aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan should remind nations of the urgency of a global action to address climate change.