By Alfred de Tavares, IANS
Oslo : Former US vice president Al Gore and head of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) R.K. Pachauri, who have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, say the climate crisis cannot be resolved with the use of technology alone.
“Reliance on technology alone is not sufficient to contain the emissions of climate destroying substances,” said Pachauri on the eve of the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony here.
“We all have to adjust our way of life to minimise the looming threat. In this aspect we must appreciate the lead given by Norway in recycling carbon dioxide from the oil installations as well as their promotion of climate quotas in the third world,” Pachauri told IANS.
While Gore warned that “the world is facing a crisis situation”, Pachauri struck an encouraging note.
“Among the positive aspects lies the fact that the eventual costs of reversing the climate changes are not outside our grasp. Now we have a window, one may say a period of grace of seven years, in which we must institute vital steps that are within our ken. It is imperative that we accomplish this latest by 2015,” the Indian scientist said.
Gore added: “There are absolutely no winners in this grim situation. Both the rich as well as the poor are in the same faltering boat and the whole world must now rally to attain a sustainable environmental development if the nature is not to be fatally destroyed.
“That is the reason why we should not consider aid to the third world to fight climate change as a pouring of generosity. We are as much dependant on our endeavours as they are to overcome the threatening problem.”
In a clear riposte to the rampant criticism of the former US vice president’s efforts to raise popular alarm against this threat, Pachauri said: “Please do not try to hide or understate what is happening but, rather, let the whole world realise, loud and clear, what terrible significance the changes in our climate hold for the future of our planet”.
This year’s awards have roused the most universal concern since the inception of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.
“Over the decades, the peace prize has had its share of criticism, controversy and discord,” Lars Johansson, a veteran Norwegian journalist, told IANS. “But this year the popular global involvement is, indeed, unmatched”.
Norwegian monarch King Harald V will present the Nobel Peace Prize to this year’s awardees on Monday.