PM: Climate issues will only get worse

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Video of Prime Minister Philip 'Brave' Davis, speaking at COP27 today: 'Please stay safe'.

FROM EARLIER:

By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Tribune Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis told heads of government that as the world enters a new climate era, the situation will only get worse requiring binding commitments instead of statements alone that have been used to postpone real action.

Should the status quo remain, Mr Davis painted a sobering picture that there could be hundreds of millions of climate refugees, placing pressure on borders, security and political systems across the world.

The prime minister made the remarks at the World Leaders’ Summit of the United Nations Climate Change Conference during COP27, which is being held at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt this year.

Mr Davis said many Bahamians have questioned why its government was yet again attending the climate change summit and pointed to Tropical Storm Nicole, which began affecting certain islands last night.

“I say that we have come, because we have to believe that a safer, better future is possible,” Mr Davis said. “I say that we have come, because we believe that action - real, concerted, action - can save the planet, and save our human race.

“And I say that we have come, because each nation here, acting in its own, enlightened self-interest, knows, in a most profound way, that we need each other to make this work.

 “I live in the most beautiful country on earth. But right now, even as I speak, Bahamians are mobilising to prepare for the impact of yet another powerful storm, Tropical Storm Nicole. So, I come here with a simple request: let’s get real.

 “What we need most at this conference is to confront the radical truth. Big, ambitious goals are important - but not if we use aspirations to obscure reality. The goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, is on life support. This is a hard truth for many to admit, because even the best-case scenarios will mean almost unimaginable upheaval and tragedy.

 “The realities of war, economic headwinds, the hangover from the pandemic, and competition among world powers, cannot be used as justification not to confront these imminent dangers.

 “Let’s get real: it’s only going to get worse. We are entering a new climate era that will drive extreme geopolitical and economic instability.

 “Statements without binding commitments or enforcement mechanisms have been used again and again as a way to postpone real action. Yes, the world’s wealthiest carbon polluters should pay for the very extensive loss and damage caused by their emissions.

 “But ‘getting real’ means understanding that it will be self-interest that drives decision-makers.”

 He continued: “So, I am not here to ask any of you to love the people of my country with the same passion as I do, or even to act on behalf of future generations in your own country.

 “I’m asking: what is it worth to you, to prevent millions of climate refugees, from turning into tens of millions, and then hundreds of millions, putting pressure on borders and security and political systems across the world?”

 Mr Davis said he was not telling world leaders to agitate for the World Bank to be overhauled for this new climate era, but he was of the view that they needed to get smart and act quickly to address the systemic risk of climate change.

 “Multilateral banks must play a crucial role in scaling up financing options that will provide real solutions.

 “I’m not here to tell the private sector to give up caring about profits. I’m here to say that in a world of profound instability, your profits are very much in danger. So, we need to work together to transition the world to clean energy.”

 Mr Davis said Bahamians, as descendants of African slaves, had a duty to fight for survival, adding the country had made progress in fighting the impact of climate change rather than wait for the remainder of the world to act.

 “We know we have what it takes to provide the kind of leadership and innovation that contribute to meaningful solutions. Our mangroves, seagrasses and salt marshes are a critical carbon sink. While others were talking, we took action, and passed innovative new legislation to deal with blue carbon.

 “We created a regulatory framework for dealing and trading in carbon credits.

 “Other countries are already considering adopting our model. And just this past Sunday, we agreed in principle with the IMF, to partner together, among other things, to determine how carbon credits can be used productively, as a new asset class.

 “Yes, this is what real, life-changing action looks like. We in The Bahamas are not sitting still.

 “We will not flinch from confronting the hard truth. We will continue to offer our leadership.

 “And we will continue our drive for innovation and ingenuity,” Mr Davis said.

Comments

K4C says...

I almost spit up in my mouth, WOW how can Davis spew such foolishness,

Posted 9 November 2022, 1:55 p.m. Suggest removal

tribanon says...

Davis must do whatever he is told to do by the senior representatives of the Chinese Communist Party who are responsible for governing all but a few nations in the Caribbean region. If he does not do his chicken little sky is falling act about climate change at least once a week, his masters in Beijing get very upset and start squeezing his teeny-tiny rat-size b _ _ _ s.

Posted 9 November 2022, 5:58 p.m. Suggest removal

ColumbusPillow says...

Please no more irresponsible, self-serving apocalyptic warnings of climate change. THE EVIDENCE IS NOT THERE.AND THESE WARNINGS ARE DOING A LOT OF HARM TO OUR CHILDREN IN THE MEANTIME; WE ARE NOT GOING TO SURVIVE!

Posted 9 November 2022, 2:33 p.m. Suggest removal

Porcupine says...

What did you just say? I was an English major in college. You would get an F in grade school for your uneducated outburst. Sit down and go back into the corner where your teacher sent you years ago.

Posted 10 November 2022, 9:40 a.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

The Beggar in Chief is hunting his carbon credits ............. wish him well.

We still have to pay high BPL bills, pay hurricane insurance rates + VAT, and watch our fisheries disappear from poaching .............. Brave what you gern do about that??????????

Posted 9 November 2022, 3:18 p.m. Suggest removal

realfreethinker says...

The treasury will continue to get worse if he keeps traveling like he and his croonies do

Posted 9 November 2022, 6:48 p.m. Suggest removal

LastManStanding says...

Our country is becoming an international disgrace. Between the begging and murders, we are turning into a clownshow in the eyes of the international community.

Posted 9 November 2022, 7:53 p.m. Suggest removal

Maximilianotto says...

In every normal country the minister responsible for the Our Lucaya disaster would resign. „Vetting Exumas $1,2 bn investors“ Who’s vetting him?
FTX will close. SEC investigation ongoing so toxic investment. Negative value. Binance also on SEC radar so walked away. Maybe government should buy? Competence of Minister for Investment shouldn’t be of any doubt. Then merge with Aragonite into Sovereign Wealth Fund. Rothschild will advise and Kristalina will congratulate Brave. Sand everywhere.
Trouble waiting in the billions lawsuits when returning from holiday trip.

Posted 9 November 2022, 10:10 p.m. Suggest removal

Porcupine says...

Empty, hollow words.
Even the ridiculous deniers like Columbopillow are spinning around like a child.
We are finished.
Rising sea levels coupled with greed and ignorance will soon take their toll.

Posted 10 November 2022, 5:50 a.m. Suggest removal

JokeyJack says...

Since most articles on the Tribune have "Commenting has been disabled for this article.", we as pundits need to be careful to make the kind of comments that are acceptable in the current communist climate. Therefore :

I believe that the Honorable PM Davis is exactly on point here. He, along with John Kerry are going to save the world from the horrors of climate change brought about by disgusting disease filled human beings. Let us all wish them both Godspeed.

Remember, you too can fight climate change simply by getting vaccinated - according to Biden.

Posted 10 November 2022, 9:44 a.m. Suggest removal

Maximilianotto says...

Ask John Kerry why there’s no ambassador here. The answer will not be nice and goes back to his time in Obama government. He’ll never forget neither forgive.

Posted 10 November 2022, 1:22 p.m. Suggest removal

rosiepi says...

How embarrassing it is to listen to Davis head of a government known chiefly by it’s corruption, stand on the world’s stage pontificating about his people’s “moral purpose” on climate activism.
His self aggrandizing speechifying even claimed that other countries had adopted his environmental safeguards/projects! Will wonders never cease?
I recall his boasting in these pages about his knowledge of etiquette whilst he trips across the world racking up our debt load, so why then did he so rudely leave well ahead of the end of the speeches?

Posted 10 November 2022, 3:08 p.m. Suggest removal

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