Heard and Overheard in Bali

I love some of these quotes from Bali via enviromedia.

In wrapping up our Global Warming: Bali or Bust blog, our team has combined some of our favorite quotes we heard at the conference. Thanks for your interest. Let us know your comments.

“Don’t work toward your own extinction by believing this is science fiction.” U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretary General Yvo de Boer on Day 7 of the Bali meeting.

“My own country the United States is principally responsible for obstructing progress in Bali,” Al Gore, in Bali Dec. 13, after accepting his Nobel Peace Prize earlier in the week.

“Companies that don’t get it right won’t be around.” Bjorn Stigson, President, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, on implementing sustainable business practices without making false environmental claims to consumers.

“Public education is a better expenditure than carbon storage.” Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, UN Special Envoy on Climate Change, on agreeing with comments made by Emil Salim, economist and former Minister of Indonesia.

“Look Mr. Farmer, don’t cut the tree.” Emil Salim, on providing subsidies to prevent deforestation in developing countries like Indonesia, which need the economic boost of logging but likewise suffer from its environmental consequences.

“Stop deforestation before doing carbon trading.” Uraguay NGO representative.

“Journalists often ask me if I’m disappointed it took 20 years to get action since the (UNFCCC) Rio Conference. Twenty years is not a lot of time when you look at human history.” Dr. Brundtland, who was first chair for UN Climate Change Panel and pioneered global policy in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

“Who would’ve thought you’d have NGOs promoting nuclear power?”
American Electric Power (AEP) spokesperson on Global Business Day.

“The U.S. government is taking a Katrina-like approach to climate change: sit back and wait for someone else to take action, then accept no responsibility.” Swiss businessman.

“Some hotels just need to stop being greedy and pay to do the right thing and recycle.” (verus illegal dumping in forest) Josh, age 12, Sunrise School, Bali.

“Contributing to more than a third of the world’s CO2 emissions, the electricity sector will undoubtedly be confronted with future carbon constraints. Pressure from shareholders and stakeholders to manage carbon exposure is on the rise, as climate policies are already taking hold.” Adam Kirkman, World Business Council for Sustainable Business.

“Because of my job, I’m not supposed to have a political opinion, but I’m just embarrassed about our country’s lack of leadership on climate change.” TSA customs agent upon hearing of our trip to Bali for UN Conference.

“In the U.S., ‘voluntary’ means do nothing.” Teruaki Masumoto, Tokyo Electric Power Company.

“There are not many businesses who say ‘use less of our product.’” Steve Lennon, Delegation Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce, on power plants and the necessity of conservation despite the bottom line.

“We are still headed to a fossil-filled future.” International Energy Agency Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka, who also said “Our current trajectory is under-invested, dirty and vulnerable.”

“I would like to see incentives right down to the personal level at home, with carbon trading on eBay or eTrade.” Odin Knudsen, managing director of environmental products for JP Morgan.

“Prepare for the unexpected, always.” Olga Gassan Zade of Point Carbon at the Carbon Finance Event hosted by the International Emissions Trading Association (where consensus was government needs to provide parameters quickly for today’s $28 billion carbon trading market).

“The core manufacturing process for our industry is photosynthesis. It’s the most efficient process in the world. It’s available without patent, without trademark and without technology transfer.” Weyerhaeuser Senior Vice President For Corporate Affairs Ernesta Ballard on carbon sequestration in its forests and products.

Heard and Overheard in Bali
“Americans always try to do the right thing after they’ve tried everything else.” Winston Churchill (no, he wasn’t there, but I just heard about this quote, which seems to be accurate for this situation)

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