In many southern nations, the largest source of emissions is deforestation, which is partly caused by the demand for wood in the wealthy North. It is vital to recognise the fundamental difference between emissions originating from wealthy and poorer countries. Emissions from the North are created by producing consumer goods, running home appliances, heating large homes and fuelling private cars. Emissions in the South, on the other hand, are often directly related to meeting basic needs growing rice, rearing cattle and clearing forests. One thing that the US has got right is that southern countries will also have to participate if we want to stop potentially catastrophic climate change.
Emissions have to be reduced globally by more than two thirds.
This means that sooner or later southern nations will have limit their emissions, too. Eventually all countries would have to reach the same low per capita level of emissions. Enter your email below to subscribe to the Rising Tide international network egroup. This is a forum for discussion of climate change news and campaigning as well as a communication and co-ordination tool for groups and individuals within the Rising Tide network and a way for people to get involved in the activities who are not already participating. Enter your email below to subscribe to the Rising Tide Information egroup which is specifically for articles, reports, essays and analysis of climate change issues.