Nobel Peace Price Committee – 2007-12-11 22:55:27
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/10/europe/EU-GEN-Norway-Nobel-Peace-Excerpts-IPCC.php
Excerpts from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Chair Rajendra Pachauri’s Speech on Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize/big>
OSLO, Norway (December 10, 2007) — “Almost two decades ago, the UN was acutely conscious of the possibility of disaster consequent on climate change through increases in sea levels. Today we know much more, which provides greater substance to that concern. This award being given to the IPCC, we believe goes fundamentally beyond a concern for the impacts of climate change on peace…
“Honoring the IPCC through the grant of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 in essence can be seen as a clarion call for the protection of the earth as it faces the widespread impacts of climate change…
“Neglect in protecting our heritage of natural resources could prove extremely harmful for the human race and for all species that share common space on Planet Earth…
“In general, the impacts of climate change on some of the poorest and the most vulnerable communities in the world could prove extremely unsettling. And, given the inadequacy of capacity, economic strength and institutional capabilities characterizing some of these communities, they would remain extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and may, therefore, actually see a decline in their economic condition, with a loss of livelihoods and opportunities to maintain even subsistence levels of existence…
“In Africa by 2020, between 75 and 250 million people are projected to be exposed to increased water stress due to climate change. … By 2020, in some African countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50 percent…
“It is within the reach of human society to meet these threats. The impacts of climate change can be limited by suitable adaptation measures and stringent mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions…
“Hazards from the impacts of climate change are, therefore, a reality today in some parts of the world, and we cannot hide under global averages and the ability of affluent societies to deal with climate-related threats as opposed to the condition of vulnerable communities in poor regions of the globe.”
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