I was tagged on a discussion on twitter initiated by Paul O’ Callaghan, CEO of WestAfricaENRG, which started from his initial tweet about Greta and President Putin. After reading tweets from other participants, I decided to chime in and share on our blog because I think it’s an important discussion that needs to be had. See tweets below.
“Sure, Greta is kind, but emotions should not control this issue,”
— Paul O’Callaghan (@p_ocallaghan) October 3, 2019
“Go and explain to developing countries why they should continue living in poverty and not be like Sweden.”
said Putin, he has a point….
Is this to mean that there aren’t pollution reduced production technique options for developing countries to adopt? Must developing countries arrive at a similar comfort level as Sweden by following her examples including her success and failures? @environchic @adesuwagreen
— Dreamscape Gardens (@DreamscapeGard1) October 4, 2019
If you know a low cost, pollution free path for economic growth, you should write a book and become very very rich…!
— Paul O’Callaghan (@p_ocallaghan) October 4, 2019
I understand it is difficult but not impossible. Until the puzzle is cracked, it seems impossible. Never say Never. If only we put in as much energy in that direction…
— Dreamscape Gardens (@DreamscapeGard1) October 4, 2019
+6 billion years of evolution and still people think it is not impossible…. as you say perhaps one day….
— Paul O’Callaghan (@p_ocallaghan) October 4, 2019
My point has always been, Greta could achieve that feat cos of where she was born & her parent originates. No child does that here and become a global phenomenon, no one…
— San. Alli Rasheed Ololade ??♐ (@wolewolearufin) October 3, 2019
I bet you if you went to a slum area in nigeria and took footage of a young child being critical of Greta – saying something like “oya Greta, sail to lagos and live like this for one week – and then tell me economic growth is a fairy tale” I think it would go viral… :-)
— Paul O’Callaghan (@p_ocallaghan) October 3, 2019
Believe you me, it will definitely go viral and create another “confusion” for and against even from us. Geography is sure a factor in what happens to us as a people… #Makoko #Ajegunle etc comes to mind… Raworth’s Doughnut ? Economy, too… #sigh
— Gboyega OLORUNFEMI (@MERRYMAKERZ12) October 3, 2019
The other one i thought of, was go film the soot in PH, the gas flaring – and get a young child saying “Oya Greta, tell me again why plastic in the ocean is the problem?” ;-)
— Paul O’Callaghan (@p_ocallaghan) October 3, 2019
I remember attending Nigeria’s preparatory activities for the upcoming UNFCCC COP 21s in Abuja in 2015 and I suggested Nigeria has a plan B that favoured it’s development incase INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) for countries was not adopted.
— Obie Agusiegbe (@environchic) October 5, 2019
My idea for plan B could be the option to cap emissions for all countries. Capping emissions for all countries will definitely reduce emissions and also give room for developing and less polluting countries to continue to develop.
— Obie Agusiegbe (@environchic) October 5, 2019
It would ensure that developed countries would help developing countries develop because they would have needed to seriously look at an environmental management mechanism like the clean development mechanism.
— Obie Agusiegbe (@environchic) October 5, 2019
I have always liked the idea of capping emissions because it is a sure way of ensuring that emitting corporations do something about their emissions and look for credible alternatives or face being shut down or fined etc. and not just green wash their activities.
— Obie Agusiegbe (@environchic) October 5, 2019
Agree that was the plan, when I started in this industry we originated and sold CDM EU-ETS. 2 probs 1) price collapsed and 2) projects failed to deliver the planned CDM’s so became too complicated to monitise them – then cost of oversight became too high.
— Paul O’Callaghan (@p_ocallaghan) October 5, 2019
I think 50% of the reduction in developed counties should to ‘given’ to developing economies to allow for industrialisation, and when GDP/ capita reaches say $6,000 a deflation factor is applied to the give away. Net reduction is GHG’s and economic development persists.
— Paul O’Callaghan (@p_ocallaghan) October 5, 2019
Something has to give. Developed countries can’t be asking developing countries to reduce emission and not be mandated to give up some of their revenues especially when they caused global warming and increased ghgs in the atmosphere during their own development
— Obie Agusiegbe (@environchic) October 5, 2019
Problem is now super national organisation like @WorldBank @IMFNews etc are linking development loans or aid to emission reduction, this is why China is taking over Africa, they are not so fussy, but far more shrewd, building ports and then seizing them when loans are in stress.
— Paul O’Callaghan (@p_ocallaghan) October 5, 2019
I do agree with Greta that the obsession with GDP needs to be addressed, it only helps those countries with large debt/gdp ratios as it makes debt cheaper / more affordable long term.
— Paul O’Callaghan (@p_ocallaghan) October 5, 2019
I have a problem with GDP and they way it is calculated. It needs to be redefined. It does not work well when you apply environmental management concepts or a circular economy.
— Obie Agusiegbe (@environchic) October 5, 2019
Agree I think there should be a measure like ‘gdp / emissions’ which would draw attention to the environmental poverty of developed countries. I’m not too concerned with circula economy, that’s just consultant BS in my view.
— Paul O’Callaghan (@p_ocallaghan) October 5, 2019
These are my thoughts. https://t.co/Yxdl1co2bS
— Obie Agusiegbe (@environchic) October 5, 2019
In my opinion, circular economy I would say is the business behind resource conservation/management. It does have a way of making things sound complicated
— Obie Agusiegbe (@environchic) October 5, 2019
You can join the discussion via the comments section, if you have something to say..
International Development | Africa | Clean Technologies | Climate Resilience | Humanitarian | Fairness
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Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.
Thank you so much! I’m glad the perspective resonated with you. I’d be happy to answer your question, feel free to ask anytime!
Looking forward to hearing from you