I attended the 1992 Earth Summit. There I was, among a sea of tents, surrounded by a swarm of NGO thinkers, wheeling my bicycle around, sporting my purple dance tights which clearly set me apart from all the khaki-clad attendees. It was a grim sight, an event designed to fail. There was some hope for a treaty — the Montreal Protocol was becoming fully effective, and oil companies dreaded the fate that befell Freon producers. They were desperate for someone, anyone, to thwart any treaty that might genuinely reduce fossil fuel consumption. It quickly became apparent that there were more than enough volunteers for that unsavory task.
The US, led by George HW Bush, was the clear disruptor. Bush insisted that the American way of life was not up for debate. But just when it appeared the US might support the treaty, Japan emerged to declare its opposition. This positioned the US, along with Japan for a brief moment, alongside OPEC, the coalition of oil companies granted UN representation. People assume that big oil must pay off others to gain influence. The reality is that a lineup of leaders eagerly awaits to serve the interests of big oil, just waiting for the current favorites to mess up environmentally.
Over the years, major oil corporations and OPEC nations have dedicated themselves to hampering progress on climate change. They have clouded the issue for almost a generation. However, if you seek creative strategies in the anti-climate treaty arena, look no further than PDVSA and Venezuela.
Instead of opposing the process, Venezuela has adopted the approach of “no no, this simply isn’t sufficient!” It’s reminiscent of hardcore Marxists crashing local puppy rescue meetings, demanding to save more dogs by abolishing capitalism altogether. Down with the half-hearted efforts! It’s all or nothing. You find this type of individual in every movement, keen to let their personal version of perfection stand in the way of practical improvement.
Take Hugo Chávez at Copenhagen, commandeering a small auditorium well past his allotted time, lecturing the gathered audience on capitalism’s structural flaws and daring the timid security to eject him. Was there another (potentially productive?) meeting that could have occurred there? I can’t say for sure. But what I do know is that posturing for European activists will not diminish atmospheric CO2 levels.
So, what will? Well, elevated fossil fuel prices, leaving oil untapped, avoiding energy-intensive secondary oil extraction, transferring cargo from trucks to rail, rail to ships, and ships to pipelines wherever feasible, minimizing jet travel… well, hey, Venezuela is certainly falling short on that last point.
As Gustavo from Caracas Chronicles noted yesterday, Venezuela has reached a new level of concern trolling. The nation boasting the world’s cheapest gasoline and being a major producer of heavy crude, known for its extra carbon emissions from secondary recovery and double refining—the very country that encourages the squandering of electricity, gas, and motor fuel—is set to host a pre-summit for upcoming climate discussions. As always, the nation seeks “revolution” instead of change.
Last year, Peru and Venezuela vied to host COP20 (it was Latin America’s turn). Ultimately, a compromise was reached: Peru would oversee the main summit while Venezuela would manage the preparatory meeting or Pre-COP.
However, a mundane preparatory meeting is exactly what the government wouldn’t want. Back in 2009, the late comandante eterno leveraged the COP15 meeting in Copenhagen to broadcast his message loudly: “It’s all Capitalism’s fault.”
And indeed, they are following that mantra precisely. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at the slogan for the Pre-COP up above.
The meeting is no longer about junior bureaucrats preparing documents for the heads of state attending Lima. Oh no, it’s a SOCIAL summit now! Social movements! Consultations! Down with the Empire!
Sadly, the UN Climate Summit will follow suit. But that troubles them not. Two months ago, discussions revolved around the main framework for the summit, and by assessing the conclusions, it’s painfully clear this isn’t about climate change at all.
Who cares about cap-and-trade emissions when “The structural causes of climate change are tied to the present capitalist hegemonic system…”.
Check it out. Sarcasm, at least, is a green resource.