Hariri urges joint action to curb effects of climate change
Premier looking forward to having ‘real’ relations with Syria
Prime Minister Saad Hariri said on Wednesday that while Lebanon’s CO2 emissions were relatively little compared to other states, climate change was one of the main challenges facing the country. “There are enough indicators that urge us to take immediate action,” Hariri said, adding that Lebanon’s geography has become vulnerable to climate change.
He added that recent studies showed that temperatures in Lebanon are expected to witness a rise of 2 to 5 degrees Celcius, thus increasing the demand on water.
Addressing the United Nations Climate Summit in Copenhagen, Hariri said the issue of climate change should be dealt with in a collective rather than individual manner.
“We have a joint responsibility,” he said, “we should act as one family to counter the danger that threatens the next generations and all of us.”
Hariri said Lebanon’s agricultural sector would be the most affected by the repercussions of climate change, adding that the Bekaa Valley, the coastal town of Jbeil and Lebanon’s Cedars would also suffer.
Hariri vowed that Lebanon would undertake a series of measures to curb the effects of climate change and called for the assistance of developed countries. “We have chosen to increase the levels of renewable energy sources to 12 percent by 2020,” he said.
On Wednesday, Hariri held a series of meetings with world leaders and officials on the sidelines of the climate conference.
Following a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the prime minister announced that he would visit Damascus soon. He added that he looked forward to having “real” relations with Syria based on “honesty” that would benefit both countries.
Media reports said Hariri will head to Damascus on Sunday.
Hariri also said that the arrest warrant issued in London against former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni for her involvement in the 2009-2009 Gaza war was a new development that shows “the entire world is changing and that Israel is being cornered.”
Israel does not want to advance the peace process, said the prime minister.
“We should protect our Arabism, [but we should] protect Lebanon first,” he added.
Hariri also called for Arab solidarity in light of the “regional attempts to destabilize the Arab world.”
Hariri and Ban discussed the progress of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) and the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, which put an end to the summer 2006 war with Israel.
The premier said he voiced objections against “Israel’s daily violations of Lebanese sovereignty.” Hariri added that Lebanon took all Israeli threats “seriously” and called for the full implementation of Resolution 1701.
“Lebanon’s friends and the UN communicate with Israel to prevent it from launching a military attack against the country,” he told reporters.
Hariri later met with his Palestinian and Norwegian counterparts, Salam Fayyad and Jens Stoltenberg respectively, and then spoke to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. He also called Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who was unable to attend the conference, and scheduled a future meeting with him, the date and location of which was not specified.
Also on Wednesday, Hariri held talks with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu al-Gheit, who said that they both agreed that the current situation in the region was “sensitive.”
“The regional atmosphere is affected by the halt in the peace talks and the increase of regional pressure as a result of the Iranian nuclear issue,” Abu al-Gheit said.
“We need to focus on Palestinian reconciliation and to support the Palestinians as Arabs. The Iranian nuclear issue worries us because imposing sanctions on Iran will lead to confrontation and tensions in the region,” he added.
He said that the threat of sanctions causes Iran to make “trouble” for Western states in certain territories, possibly referring to the conflict in Yemen as well as other areas where Iranian-backed militant groups exert their influence. He said Egypt was keen on supporting Lebanon and its prime minister, adding that he reminded Hariri of President Hosni Mubarak’s invitation to host Hariri.
According to Abu al-Gheit, Hariri said he hopes to meet with Mubarak soon.