Paris in all our thoughts (David Grieve)

In recent weeks, the city of Paris has been constantly in the news because of the horrendous events of Friday 13th November.

For the next 10 days Paris should again be in every news headline because the city will be the host to the 21st Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

At the conference, which will take place between 30th November and 11th December, politicians from over 190 countries will meet to attempt to negotiate a deal on climate change to limit emissions from developed countries and to help developing countries adapt to the impact of climate change and develop low carbon economies.

The burden of climate change often falls most heavily on the poorest in the world, those who have done least to cause it. Recall if you can how Cyclone Pam’s 170mph winds wrecked the low-lying Pacific islands groups of Tuvalu and Vanuatu, killing more than 100 people and destroying the homes and lives of more than half a million people.

In the future will 2015 be remembered for terrorist attacks in Paris or for Cyclone Pam?

If we, that is the people who live on this planet, are to survive the threats of climate change then everyone must work together now – everyone – and that means us as individuals and as local communities right up to the top political figures on our planet.

Please keep climate justice in your thoughts and in your prayers at this crucial time in the existence of our planet.

Let us hope that 2015 will be remembered as the year in which decisive action was taken to save our planet.

<b>David Grieve</b>
Kantersted Court,
Lerwick.