This will the first blog post of a series on how the real issue of the danger of climate change impact is really poverty and under development. This point is in my opinion too rarely outlined when politicians in the industrialized world speak about reducing the effect of Global Warming. They too often focus on the question of emission, rather than adaption, urging not only the wealthy nations, but also the developing world to reduce their outlet of CO2 and other green house gasses (ghg’s). For example, in the New York Times the other day, one could read about the goals of the Danish environmental minister for the Cop15 meeting, which she will be the hostess of where she only addresses the emission problem (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/world/europe/20denmark.html?_r=1). This being said she does mention briefly cover the issue of Climate Justice, when she talks of the need for reduction in CO2 emissions, “China and other emerging nations must accept it even if it isn’t fair,” she said, adding, “I get it. If I were a developing country I would say, ‘Why should I do this?’ They are feeling the consequences of climate change first and foremost. And they didn’t create the situation.” I find it deeply disturbing that one of the 100 most influential people on earth (according to Forbes), and the hostess of the Cop15, wants to limit the CO2 emission in the developing world without stating a realistic alternative to further development. Some would argue, that she implicitly is saying: “we developed, but you cannot.”

Well, emission is one thing, ADAPTION is another. If the wealthy nations reduce their outlet it will not have an immediate impact on some of the nations facing climate challenges. Emission reduction has a long term effect on global warming, some nations urgently need capabilities here and now to protect their populations. Resources that the developed nations have in ample supply in the form of dams, flooding control, inland industry and other infrastructure and production arrangements, that protect them from the severest of consequences. So one way for poorer nations to adapt, and reduce the cost of human lives, is to acquire some of the same capabilities as developed nations. This should be the main concern for the up-coming climate meeting in Copenhagen.