After tracing the history of the IPCC and its contributions to climate science, especially with a series of reports in 2007 that provided the scientific basis for increased awareness and action concerning global warming, Pachauri noted that “honoring the IPCC through the grant of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 in essence can be seen as a clarion call for the protection of the earth as it faces the widespread impacts of climate change.”
Peace Requires Secure Access to Life-Sustaining Resources
Pachauri warned that climate change will lead inevitably to a scarcity of food and water in many parts of the world, an increase in malnutrition and disease, and the forced migration of millions of environmental refugees as communities are overwhelmed by rising sea levels, drought and other effects of global warming. All of these changes will result in a growing number of wars and other human conflicts, according to Pachauri.
“Neglect in protecting our heritage of natural resources could prove extremely harmful for the human race and for all species that share common space on planet earth,” Pachauri said, noting also that “changes in climate have historically determined periods of peace as well as conflict.”
“Peace can be defined as security and the secure access to resources that are essential for living,” Pachauri said. “A disruption in such access could prove disruptive of peace.”
Act Now to Curb Global Warming and Avoid Worst Effects
Like Al Gore, with whom the IPCC shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, Pachauri stressed the urgent need for immediate action to curb global warming and to avoid its most serious effects.
“Science tells us not only that the climate system is changing, but also that further warming and sea level rise is in store even if greenhouse gases were to be stabilized today,” Pachauri said. “That is a consequence of the basic physics of the system. Social factors also contribute to our future, including the 'lock-in' due, for example, to today's power plants, transportation systems, and buildings, and their likely continuing emissions even as cleaner future infrastructure comes on line. So the challenge before us is not only a large one, it is also one in which every year of delay implies a commitment to greater climate change in the future.”
Pachauri pointed out that poor countries, as well as island, coastal and delta communities are the most vulnerable to the effects of global warming.
Citing the experience of the Maldives, an island nation, Pachauri said: “Hazards from the impacts of climate change are . . . a reality today in some parts of the world, and we cannot hide under global averages and the ability of affluent societies to deal with climate-related threats as opposed to the condition of vulnerable communities in poor regions of the globe.”
To help illustrate his point, Pachauri recalled the words of Maldives President Gayoom at the 42nd Session of the UN General Assembly in October 1987: “As for my own country, the Maldives, a mean sea level rise of 2 meters would suffice to virtually submerge the entire country of 1,190 small islands, most of which barely rise 2 meters above mean sea level. That would be the death of a nation. With a mere 1 meter rise also, a storm surge would be catastrophic, and possibly fatal to the nation.”
Will World Leaders Heed Scientists’ Warnings?
By awarding the IPCC the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, Pachauri said, the Nobel Committee acknowledged that the organization has helped the world learn more about all aspects of climate change—but the question now is whether world leaders will work together to transform that knowledge into action.
“Will those responsible for decisions in the field of climate change at the global level listen to the voice of science and knowledge, which is now loud and clear? If they do so,” Pachauri said “. . . then all my colleagues in the IPCC and those thousands toiling for the cause of science would feel doubly honored at the privilege I am receiving today on their behalf.”
Read the full text of the R.K. Pachauri’s Nobel Peace Prize lecture.
See what Al Gore said during his lecture, as he accepted the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
