27 July 2009
Read a BIC Letter to the Editor of The Washington Post in response to the July 23 George Will op-ed on climate change.
Source:
The Washington Post
Monday, July 27, 2009
George F. Will couldn't be further off base with his continually baffling approach to climate change. Should we expect to see a piece from him this week arguing that Earth is flat?
First and foremost, development need not be sacrificed in the name of climate change. In 2008, the World Bank's Independent Evaluation Group found that there is no significant trade-off between climate change mitigation and energy access for the world's poorest. The provision of basic electricity services for the world's unconnected households would add only a third of one percentage point to global greenhouse gas emissions!
The argument for renewable energy is not an attack on economic growth; it's a plea for responsible and sustainable development.
As for the "no one else cares about climate change so why should we" case, the United States has an important role to play as a leader -- the last eight years of stalled climate negotiations are the result of an administration that refused to play the part.
Furthermore, as a World Bank donor country, the United States is able to push the bank to allocate its sizable resources to renewables in place of coal.
REBECCA HARRIS
Washington
The writer is information services coordinator for the Bank Information Center, which advocates for public accountability at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
useful links
Climate Fixers' Hard Sell, By George F. Will, July 23, 2009 (WashingtonPost.com)