Tutu, Scarlett: Rich must lead
2008-12-09 21:45
London - On Tuesday Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu led a group of singers, writers, actors and campaigners in urging rich nations to lead the way in tackling global warming to protect the world's poor.
In a letter to The Times, 19 signatories, including broadcaster David Attenborough, actress Scarlett Johansson and singer Annie Lennox said developed nations must "show leadership" at UN climate talks in Poznan, Poland this week.
"Wealthy nations, who are in their advantaged position because of heavy industrialisation, are the most responsible and most able to lead the world in tackling climate change," says the letter, organised by Oxfam.
"This is why they must show leadership in Poland and provide solutions that have the interests of the world's poor at heart."
It notes that the effects of global warming are hitting the poor the hardest, citing the damage wrought by more intense and frequent monsoons in Bangladesh, and the difficulties that changing weather patterns pose to Ugandan farmers.
"Rich countries must lead the way to cut emissions now so that all countries take their fair share of responsibility and act to keep global warming [from] exceeding two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels," it says.
"They must also commit funding so that poor communities can adapt to climate change. Together, we must work towards low-carbon development so that all countries - including the poor - can prosper."
The other signatories are: Janina Ochojska, Gael Garcia Bernal, Ian McEwan, Kristin Davis, Rahul Bose, Jarvis Cocker, Colin Firth, Angelique Kidjo, Iain Banks, Bill Nighy, Thom Yorke, Missy Higgins, Mark Lynas and Miguel Bose.