PHIL MAXWELL

The other day a friend reminded me of a blindingly obvious fact: It is predominately the richer western countries that determine the global response to climate change and it is the majority world, the poorest countries that are most immediately affected by it.

Manhattan in Cambodia. Photomontage 2011

• Industrialized nations have emitted far more greenhouse gas emissions (even if some developing nations are only now increasing theirs);
• Rich countries therefore face the biggest responsibility and burden for action to address climate change; and
• Rich countries therefore must support developing nations adapt—through financing and technology transfer, for example.
• Capitalism is crisis and undermines the neccessity for united global action to deal with what is one of the gravest threats facing our planet

Further information can be obtained at Greenpeace and by studying the photomontage above.