UN General Assembly
2012

Look at the beginning of any international agreement and you will find reaffirmation upon reaffirmation of our non-binding commitments to live up to our lofty ideals. Perhaps their greatest value is as a reminder of how often very little has been achieved. Our words must have meaning if our multilateral institutions are to remain effective in addressing emerging global challenges. Once again, the stakes are too high for failure to be an option.That dynamic could not be more evident than it was in the climate change negotiations. This summer, we were treated to a new round of truly terrifying news. Arctic sea ice dropped to its lowest extent in recorded history, shattering the previous record by a jaw-dropping 18 per cent. Some scientists are now predicting that the Arctic Ocean could be ice-free during summer in as little as five years. The ice melt is already wreaking significant havoc on weather patterns around the globe and has probably contributed to the historic heat waves that struck many places this year.