Why climate change has become an existential issue

Less than 2 weeks after the carnage of attacks across the centre of the city, Paris is centre stage for arguably the most important event in the modern history of the world.

Thousands of people and (particularly important) thousands of leaders, negotiators and the advisors of leaders and negotiators have come to the gargantuan complex at Le Bourget to (we hope) carve out a deal that will secure planet and prosperity for all.

The heightened security has taken its toll – this much is clear. Key civil society demonstrations in Paris have been banned, security at and around the conference tightened considerably leading to events being shifted and some cancelled. And the weight of security, so my colleagues who are already at the venue tell me, is considerable and very evident.

Yet despite this, we know the negotiations will go ahead. Civil society continues to make its voice heard with demonstrations having taken place around the world, more than 2,500 according to reports.

And the calls for action, and evidence to back up those calls have continued to mount up. 2014 has already been recorded as the hottest year on record and 14 of the 15 warmest years have all occurred in the 21st century (essentially every year but one.)

Up to $100 billion is likely to be needed to help developing countries adapt to the changing climate through to 2050. And we have been reminded that climate-related hazards have accounted for 90 percent of all disasters, leading to more than 600,000 dead and 4.1 billion injured.

On the positive side the Climate Economy Commissioners have told us precisely what needs to happen to deliver 96 percent of emissions reductions needed by 2030 to keep global warming under 2 degrees Celsius, a target that comes with significant economic benefits, such as investments in sustainable energy boosting the global economy by $18 trillion by 2035.

Yet despite the ever-increasing evidence of the impact of a changing climate on every aspect of our lives and livelihoods, on our security, economy and prospects for the future, and on the distinct opportunities a climate-informed world holds, it is a couple of more human comments that have stuck with me to this crucial point.

The first was the famous and emotional appeal to the Warsaw climate negotiations by Yeb Sano, then the climate negotiator of the Philippines, who remarked on his gladness of having had finally received contact from his brother in the wake of super-cyclone Haiyan (the strongest storm to ever make landfall.)

The second came from President Tong of Kiribati, at an event at the Sendai conference on disaster risk reduction. He remarked, in his characteristic dry style, that his country had bought land in Fiji, “for the inevitable outcome” of his country’s disappearance below the waves.

Both comments, given in different but inter-connected international fora remind us that Paris negotiations are not just about international agreements and frameworks. They are not even about sustainable growth and sustainable environment (although they is about those things too).

The threat of climate change is, for the most vulnerable people, and the most vulnerable countries (not necessarily the same thing) a threat to every aspect of life and living. For some, it’s an existential issue.

We need our member states to represent us, and deliver the most ambitious and demanding agreement they can. They must build upon the recent positive announcements on sustainable energy, and make a real commitment, a real difference to the future.

There is nothing more important, here and now.

Publication does not imply endorsement of views by the World Economic Forum.

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Author: Jan Kellett is disaster and climate partnerships advisor at the U.N. Development Programme.

Image: A flood victim carries a rubber ring as he arrives on dry land. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra.