It is good that it is flawed.
That sums the essence of why the
Paris climate accord is an achievement - after 23 years of bickering, dissents,
disagreements, debates on terms like 'carbon budget, climate justice,
differentiation between developed and developing countries, carbon credit,
transparency, accountability, historical emissions, emission targets' and so on - the
world has, at least, agreed to a common paper to map the further roadmap.
The world, with all its
participating countries in such events, that include almost the whole planet -
right from the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro - has, so far, consistently failed
to reach at this elusive common draft that the 195 participating countries
could reach at in Paris.
Why they had failed so far?
Because there were very few
global polluters and the most were the silent victims.
Because the victim lot was
rightly demanding to be compensated for the legacy of historical loss
(historical emission) they had been burdened with.
Because the polluters were not
ready for it in unequivocal, transparent terms.
Because, over the years, the
polluters, too, in turn, had become victims of their continued exploitation of
nature.
Because, developing clean technologies
to keep fossil fuels away was too costly and a privilege of the rich nations.
Because, the developing block of the
countries was putting forward the logic that why they should pay for the deeds
of the rich, industrialized world at the cost of impeding their growth that was
going to be heavily dependent on energy supplied by fossil fuels.
Even if both blocks were now equivalent
in facing the wrath of nature - global warming, glaciers melting, rising sea
levels, irregular rainfall patterns and floods, recurring drought spells and
other unpredictable weather parameters and so on.
Because, if the low lying coastal
areas and cities have to submerge (rising sea levels with increasing
temperature due to global warming), it will be across the world and not just in
America, Europe, China or other industrialized nations.
Because, if the world is
increasingly facing erratic weather behaviour and freakish weather patterns and
problems thereof, it is not just in India, but it is across the world – in Gulf
countries, in America, in Europe, in Asia, in Africa and elsewhere.
An agreement that accommodates
concerns of 195 nations or so, divided in multiple blocks, is bound to have
some 'flaws or imperfections' for every block on the go - and the world leaders have accepted it while lauding the development. Here, everyone has something to question for, but everyone is attached to this 'legally binding agreement' by a common goal for a larger good that affects everyone.
The world community has
honestly accepted it - after an honest effort this time with a 'do or die'
proposition - after 23 years of the Earth Summit - giving us the first document that will be legally binding on every nation - and that is the best
thing about COP21 or Paris Climate Summit.
We need to rush to save out
habitations and our habitats and this 'flawed agreement' reached at in Paris may
well be that elusive perfect beginning that we all need.