Mary Robinson took part in a panel at the UNFCC Global Adaption Forum as part of her trip to Warsaw, Poland, during COP19.
Mary Robinson took part in a panel at the UNFCCC Global Adaption Forum as part of her trip to Warsaw, Poland, during COP19.
Joining Mrs Robinson on the panel was Lord Nicholas Stern, Chair, Center for Climate Change Economics & Policy; Rhoda Peace, Environment Commissioner for the African Union; Lucille Sereng, Philippine Climate Change Commissioner; and Bianca Jagger, Chair of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation.
Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, moderated the discussion, while COP19 President Marcin Korolec opened the forum.
Speaking about the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan in her home country, Ms Sereng described how, despite being usually able to cope with smaller-scale weather shocks, the Philippines was hit with a weather event that went far beyond what any adaptation measures could deal with. Speaking about the need for a robust international climate agreement, she said: “We can no longer afford delay. This is not for us only. This is for our youth – the current generation and the future”.
“Business as usual is not an option in order to avoid catastrophic climate change,” Ms Jagger said, before adding: “Now is the time to reduce carbon emissions in order to achieve climate justice.”
When asked what her vision for a climate-resilient future was, Mrs Robinson replied it was one where people live in dignity and their human rights are respected and not undermined by poverty or climate change.
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