The strong earthquake that struck Sichuan Province and the tropical cyclone that hit Myanmar impressed two facts upon our hearts: Natural disasters know no mercy and life is fragile. For almost two weeks, the global media have transmitted this thought to every corner of the world. The news about a woman who was rescued nine days after the disaster was not only recounted throughout the Chinese-speaking world, it was told in many different languages. Many people asked themselves: What about me? What would happen to me?
If the 921 Earthquake educated the Taiwanese, then the disaster in China is setting off a brainwashing movement on an enormous scale all over the world. The situation now is much like the situation just after the Sept. 11 attacks in the US that shocked the world and motivated many countries to keep a closer watch for terrorist actions and tighten their national security and defense systems. Earthquakes, torrential rains, storms and tsunamis can threaten anyone’s safety at any moment, and extensive media coverage makes everyone wonder if they are prepared for the threat of these disasters.
Of the many natural threats, only global warming has been recognized by a majority of scientists internationally. Signs of this are increasing, like the increasing force and frequency of hurricanes in the northern Pacific Ocean and the shortening of rainy periods all over the world, while the number of record-breaking rainfalls is increasing. The influence of carbon dioxide emissions has been identified as a key factor in this process.
Therefore, it is important that countries contribute to the establishment of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, to control emission of greenhouse gases, stabilize climate change and reduce the occurrence of unusual climate disasters. But climate change appears unstoppable. Global temperatures will rise by at least 0.6 degrees in this century, so apart from taking action to control emissions of greenhouse gases for the sake of the next generation, we also need to adapt to the changing climate.
The Kyoto Protocol includes an Adaptation Fund, established to help developing countries, that can provide the funds needed to proceed with the construction of a variety of basic facilities necessary for adapting to increasingly violent storms like the one that hit Myanmar. The fund’s budget doesn’t come from individual countries. Instead, developed nations have to allocate a fixed proportion to the fund from projects within the three flexible mechanisms part of the Kyoto Protocol, such as the Clean Development Mechanism, to be recognized under the protocol.
The Climate Security Act that the US Congress passed is partly similar to Taiwan’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act (溫室氣體減量法), but it also provides for the establishment of an Adaptation Fund.
Countries cannot depend on public donations or a government emergency reserve fund for disaster relief and reconstruction every time a disaster strikes. Government deficits and corrupt politicians can damage a country’s ability to handle disasters. Therefore, when a government takes measures to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, the principle of quantity control says it has to promote flexible measures such as emissions trade, and for every emission trade or case that requires the agreement of another party, it must donate a certain percentage of the proceeds to the Adaptation Fund.
There is much the government can do. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act should be amended to a national climate security act. An Adaptation Fund should also be initiated.
Liu Chung-ming is director of the Global Change Research Center of National Taiwan University.
Translated by Anna Stiggelbout
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