Senators Call On Bush To Help Poorest Nations Deal With Consequences Of Climate Change

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http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48738427_senators-call-bush-help-poorest-nations-deal-consequences-climate-change

Senators Call On Bush To Help Poorest Nations Deal With Consequences Of Climate Change
Wed, 12/05/2007 - 14:36 — newsdesk
As international talks in Bali begin, Senators Menendez, Biden, Kerry, Sanders, Dodd and Bingaman look toward "adaptation" assistance

December 4, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – As the largest-ever world climate change conference gets underway in Bali, a group of U.S. Senators, led by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), is urging President Bush to help poorer nations cope with the problems caused by climate change, in order to prevent unimaginable hardship in those countries and the potential of greater instability worldwide (letter).

Senators Menendez, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE), John Kerry (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) are urging the president to secure an agreement coming out of the 13th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change that will ensure meaningful assistance to developing countries to cope with the severe impacts of climate change. The Senators point out that such assistance to vulnerable nations is a moral imperative and can help prevent global conflict and instability brought on by refugees and a scarcity of resources.

“We are experiencing a planetary emergency, which means that we’re all in this together,” said Senator Menendez, Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection. “Natural disasters on one side of the globe will affect people on the other side, so the response to climate change must be worldwide in scale. It is not only in our moral interest as the world’s strongest nation but certainly also in our national interest to help the world’s poorest nations cope with climate change and to help preserve global peace when the severe climate consequences come to bear. President Bush must treat this as the true emergency that it is and help the world prepare.”

“Global warming knows no borders and many of the countries most at risk from the consequences have done little to cause the problem,” said Senator Biden, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “Supporting their efforts to deal with climate change will reduce the threat of instability in these fragile states, and will help build consensus for a global solution.”

“As the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gasses and wealthiest nation on earth, America needs to lead the effort to help at-risk nations adapt to climate change,” said Senator Kerry. “These vulnerable populations are feeling the effects of climate change more than anyone on earth. They are watching their homelands suffer from flooding, droughts, destroyed crops and severe storms, but are without the capabilities to respond. To meet the challenge of global climate change, we must take immediate action to reduce our emissions here at home, but we also must ensure we do not leave the most disadvantaged behind.”

“All over the world, people grapple with the crisis of global warming,” said Senator Sanders. ”We are facing an enormous tragedy if we do not get our act together. We need bold leadership in confronting this potential catastrophe.”

“The United States must demonstrate responsible leadership to address the crisis of global warming,” said Senator Dodd. “To do so, we must work with the global community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and work to protect impoverished nations that will be most affected by climate change. The crisis of global warming is moving at an astounding rate and President Bush must take action now.”

Text of letter .

Source: Senator Robert Menendez