CALD Climate Change Conference 2012

What does a liberal climate change agenda look like? This is probably the most fundamental question that participants to this CALD Climate Change Conference should address at the onset. The question of course is based on the assumption that such agenda exists, or at the very least, can be formulated. A closer scrutiny, however, reveals that this assumption rests on shaky grounds, as liberals are existentially divided on the nature of the climate change phenomenon. The division runs into the core values of the liberal ideology – raising the issue of whether a “fit” between between liberalism and climate change can be found.

On the one hand, you have the likes of US Senator and Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, who described global warming as “patently absurd” and “junk science”. He further argued that

The threat of climate change presents today’s policy-makers with the greatest ever peace-time challenge… As the world population continues to rise, and the economies of developing countries grow larger, the threat of irreversible climate change and climate catastrophe becomes correspondingly greater.”

Liberalism’s commitment to freedom lies at the core of the division, as the strong collective action that climate change demands may be construed as interference with individual liberty. As political theorist David West suggests:

Liberalism is a problem because some of its core values and institutions are obstacles to an adequate response to the environmental crisis. Economic growth (only temporarily halted by the current financial crisis) is rapidly using up dwindling supplies of natural resources. The individualism of liberal societies encourages an increasingly wasteful expansion of wants that have less and less to do with genuine needs. We double the size of our houses and cars simply because “we deserve it.” What‟s more, the favoured liberal understanding of freedom – in the negative sense of being left alone – translates into insistence on our right to abstain from political action to save our common world.
Reflecting the division among liberals, West also argued that liberalism is at stake on the issue of climate change. He said:

The consequences of environmental collapse are, in the first place, obviously material and climatic. Cheap sources of energy and raw materials may disappear. The availability of fresh water will diminish. Areas suitable for sustainable agriculture will decline. But these material effects also mean considerable and possibly fatal strains on the institutions and ultimately the values of liberal democracy. Will the uneven effects of climate change occur without provoking violent conflicts, wars and mass migration? Will liberal democratic values and institutions survive a likely condition of almost permanent war?

Climate Change as a Liberal Issue

Notwithstanding the debates on the compatibility of climate change with liberalism, as well as on the science and economics of climate change, it can be argued that global warming is inherently a liberal issue.

Climate change, within the ambit liberalism, can be framed in three essential ways:

Climate Change Adaptation as a Human Right

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) defines adaptation as “practical steps to protect countries and communities from the likely disruption and damage that will result from effects of climate change.” Liberals could argue that it is the democratic and inalienable right of every human being to live in a world with clean air, clean water, and a healthful ecology. The pollution, floods, droughts, contamination of drinking water, changing ground water levels, and increasing spread of diseases brought by climate change could have severe implications on infrastructure and resources which, in turn, affect an individual‟s well-being.

According to a position paper drafted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights entitled Climate Change and the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation: “Both the protection of human rights and the promotion of a healthy environment go hand-in- hand and are mutually reinforcing. Respecting human rights obligations in the context of climate change is not only a binding legal obligation incumbent on all States, but also offers opportunities for new, more sustainable and efficient approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation.”

Beyond the science and economics of climate change, it is important to note that the security and welfare of human beings should be of primordial concern in any discussion about global warming. By understanding the importance of climate change adaptation as a human rights concern, policy-makers would be better guided is shaping more efficient and sustainable climate change adaptation measures.

Openness, Transparency, and Accountability as Fundamental Principles Necessary for Building a Climate-Resilient Society

The role of politics in addressing climate change should not be underestimated because lack of good governance could lead to massive loss of lives and livelihoods due to climate change impacts, as well as to further deterioration of the ecosystem.

There is a strong correlation between a more open and democratic political system and a more adaptive and climate-resilient society. Openness, transparency and accountability can lead to a society with access to reliable and accurate information, as well as effective and efficient institutions. With information and institutions effectively in place, preparedness and the capacity to immediately address the impacts of climate change would definitely improve.

3. Climate-Resilient Society as an Enabling Environment for Economic Activity, Investments and Wealth Creation

Environmental disasters affect the economy. According to the study of Sir Nicholas Stern, former chief economist of the World Bank, climate change is “the greatest and widest- ranging market failure ever seen,” with potentials to cause economic and social disruption similar with that of the two World Wars and Great Depression. For this reason, climate change preparedness must be incorporated in every country‟s development and economic agenda.

A climate-resilient society provides the environment necessary for the practice of free enterprise – as entrepreneurs and investments could flourish unperturbed by environmental insecurities and destabilizing impacts of global warming. Needless to say, it is difficult for businesses and economic players to thrive and engage in a free enterprise if they are perpetually undermined by a government or society unprepared to deal with climate change impacts.

Towards a Liberal Climate Change Agenda in Asia

Recognizing the need for liberals to formulate and propagate a liberal agenda that could guide policy-makers in coming up with solutions to mitigate climate change and its impact, the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) will be holding the Climate Change Conference with the theme “Towards a Liberal Climate Change Agenda in Asia” on 23-28 March 2012 in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines. As the only alliance of liberal and democratic political parties in Asia, CALD, by coming up with a liberal climate change agenda, can pave the way in shaping and re-shaping the policies of Asian political parties and governments with regard to climate change in order to achieve an energy efficient, healthy, prosperous, and sustainable Asian region.

Puerto Princesa City is chosen as the venue of the conference because it is first city in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia to be declared as carbon-neutral, based on the international guidelines set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The eco-friendly atmosphere of the city would hopefully assist in achieving the following conference objectives:

(1) identify the various climate change issues and problems that Asian countries face;

(2) discuss the policy responses (existing and intended) to these issues and problems;

(3) examine CALD‟s draft regional climate change agenda and how it incorporates the liberal proposals to address climate change;

(4) provide a venue for the participants to devise a strategic plan for CALD which identifies follow-up activities, objectives, responsibilities, strategies and intended outcomes.

This conference builds from the results of the previous workshops held in Bangkok, Thailand (November 2011) and Cagayan de Oro/Bukidnon, Philippines (February 2012). The Bangkok workshop, which carried the theme “Setting CALD‟s Climate Change Agenda”, identified the policy areas that CALD should concentrate on namely: land use and demographic settlement; water-related issues and marine and coastal resource management; and renewable energy, investment and economic opportunities. The Cagayan de Oro workshop on “Addressing Vulnerability, Fostering Adaptation” examined the various climate change threats that Asian countries face, as well as the different measures and strategies that build climate change adaptability and resilience.

Guided by the inputs from the two workshops, the CALD Palawan Conference hopes to finalize the policy statements that would guide CALD member parties in addressing climate change. In order to achieve this general aim, the following methodologies provide structure to the conference:

Plenary Session: The plenary session serves as a venue to revisit the different climate change issues and problems that Asian countries face, and their implications for policy- making. The presentations of the speakers for this session will be followed by an open forum.

Panel Discussion: After a review of the main climate change issues and concerns, there will be short presentations of panel members on topics of their choice which could be of interest to policy-makers. The panelists will then engage into a discussion, and relate (if possible) what they have presented to the following policy areas: 1) land use and demographic settlement; 2) water-related issues and marine and coastal resource management; 3) renewable energy, investment and economic opportunities.

Working Groups: The participants will be divided into three working groups based on the policy areas identified above. A working draft, containing policy statements culled from CALD‟s two previous climate change workshops will be provided to each group for discussion. The discussion will be conducted through three rounds of world café, with the three table hosts reporting the results of the discussion to the plenary.

Exposure Trip: There will be an exposure trip to Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP), one of the most important protected areas of the Philippines. An underground river directly flowing into the sea, and the associated tidal influence, makes it a significant natural phenomenon. It contains a full mountain to the sea ecosystem and protect forests, which are among the most significant in Asia. It represents significant habitat that are important for biodiversity conservation.

In recognition of the PPSRNP‟s globally significant natural value, it was inscribed to the List of World Heritage Sites in December 1999. Inscription on the list confirms the outstanding universal value of the Park and it‟s well integrated state of conservation. In February 2012, Puerto Princesa Underground River has been officially declared as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Categorised in: Conferences & Workshops

This post was written by CALD