WEF2008.2.1 Breakfast Al Gore/Bono
January 24, 2008 by Chris | permalink
Al Gore - update on Climate Change
Bono - update on Poverty
T Friedman - moderator
AG started off with an update from Bali. he also pointed out the vital nature of bringing these two issues.
B started off by asking that no one let his band know that he was awake this early. he then turned serious and shared the statistic that due to debt cancellation there are an additional 29 million children going to school. he also credited strong leadership in Africa. he then moved the G8 and its lack of promise fulfillment. he hoped that the countries would get their act together.
TF asked how they met and how are they working together.
they met about four years ago. AG points out that the relationship between climate change and poverty is very tight. the plans to alleviate poverty depend upon a program to provide food for thee impoverished. if the planet heats up by two degrees these plans will no longer function. AG pleaded for a better understanding of this. he pointed out that the G8 is a format for discussion and this kind of discussion is vital.
Bono then picked up with really great humour the incredibly difficult issue of how to wean ourselves from addition. he pointed out that oil has been really good for him. he believes in innovation as a way to find the future solutions. he also pointed out that the brunt of the climate change will be felt by the developing world. he also was not so sure of the state of emergency.
AG then chimed in that this is not just about changing light-bulbs, but changing laws so that Carbon has a price. in this way it can be incorporated into every business decision. he followed by noting that those who are now incorporating carbon considerations into their business decisions are at a disadvantage. not much progress will be made ntil there is a global price of carbon that effects everyone.
Bono hopes for coherence in foreign policy around the three extremes [ poverty, climate change, ideology ] after the next election. he hopes for this, but is concerned that there will be incrementalism, rather than the step change which is required. if you take a look at globalization, it has indeed taken quite a few out of poverty, but he asked if it was enough. the world need to be re-imagined... this needs to be anticipated. and really thought about like after WWI or WWII.
Gore followed-up citing the analysis of the questions posed to the candidates recently completed. it revealed that only three questions were posed on the environment. the media must get its act together to focus on real issues. he also picked up the re-imagination theme.
[[[[......I wonder how we can most effectively re-imagine this future......]]]]
TF - what one decision would you ask of a new president?
B - show a trajectory to deal with the millennium goals. we need to see real stability. the pentagon is starting to understand that SECURITY = STABILITY + DEVELOPMENT. he later followed up with the fact that social movements always win the day....
THE SELF-INTEREST MUST BE SERVED BY ACTING ON BOTH OF THESE ISSUES.
B - it is for him about justice - ADAPTATION FUND and education are the two things we have to focus on. get girls into schools around the world so that they have a chance for a better life which will have many rippling effects.
