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Climate change policies are unlikely to be reversed: WWF

Abu Dhabi - In the past, Trump said he believed climate change was a 'hoax' created by China "in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive.

The implementation of policies designed to mitigate climate change have gained enough momentum that they are unlikely to be ever be reversed, according to Manuel Vidal, head of climate change and energy at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
In an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, Vidal - who formerly served as Peru's environment minister -  noted that the world need not worry about the effect that Donald Trump might have on efforts to limit climate change.
In the past, Trump said he believed climate change was a 'hoax' created by China "in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive.
"Now we are in a time of uncertainty politically, but (efforts to reduce climate change) are irreversible," he said. "There is no way to look backwards. Markets, finances, and actions are already taking place. If people want a modern country, these things must be taken into account."
The leadership in this field has been from the US," he added. "They have also established their own 2050 plan with regards to climate change, linked to the energy sector."
Looking to the future, Vidal noted that pressure from individual citizens and the private sector will be vital in the future. "Nobody can deny science. Science and citizens will be able to avoid backwards actions," he said. "Responsible companies from the private sector will be able to encourage (beneficial) public policies. The non-state sector will be key."
Vidal also noted that failure to properly address climate change would almost certainly have catastrophic consequences for the world's future.
"Scientific evidence shows that by the end of the century, we'd be up by four degrees. The world cannot adapt to that," he said. "If we go even two degrees higher, the consequences would constantly get worse."
Additionally, Vidal noted that a focus on renewable energy sources will ultimately have a positive impact on the citizens of countries around the world.
"Events like Brexit and the US elections, on a global level, are a message that citizens want more jobs and security," he said. "We should be also be capable of transmitting the message that fighting climate change ensures food and energy security."
Vidal concluded by saying that events such as Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week "are sure to have results".
bernd@khaleejtimes.com