title: Focus on our Climate

The future of our children

It was only a week ago that the COP15 Climate Conference was being held in Copenhagen, Denmark, and what really disappointed me was the fact that the outcome wasn’t a new agreement, because the leasers of our world couldn’t agree. It is really sad that a country like China, a country that has a huge industry, could prevent a new agreement. The reason? They didn’t want the world to have observers in the country every now and then to make sure that they keep their part of the agreement.

A closed country

China is known to be a close country with a very government-controlled society, where people are afraid to speak up. They don’t like the idea of having the rest of the world in their backyard to keep an eye on things. They think that there should be a trust relationship where there shouldn’t be doubt that they keep their part of the deal. However in my opinion I think that this is in the interest of the entire world, and I cannot understand why one country can block such a deal. It is sad really. One should keep in mind that China is the world’s number 1 in emitting the CO2 in our atmosphere. However China believes that it is the richest countries that should put a limit to the allowed CO2.

The USA

America has a lot of other issues to deal with (poverty among others) and so the climate isn’t the number 1 priority in the Congress. However the USA is the country in the world that emits the most CO2 per inhabitant. President Obama has placed focus on this problem and he speaks in favor of it, while the previous president just ignored the growing problem.

Europe is in the front

The EU has adopted a climate and energy package, which includes that the member countries should collectively reduce their CO2 emissions by 20 percent by 2020 compared with emissions in 1990. It seems like the EU are the most eager to work for a better climate even though it might cost money.

What can we do?

We need to be aware that this world isn’t ours to treat the way we want to. We should bear in mind that future generations will live here as well inshaallah and I sure hope that we, the inhabitants, will make our own contribution.

It does matter what you do in your home. Imagine if we all didn’t use a car just one day a year! What a difference. Do you turn off the water while you brush your teeth? Do you remember to turn off the water when you shower while you add shampoo to your hair? Do you teach your children not to leave the lights on in a room when they walk out? And last but not the least, what kind of light bulbs do you have in your home? Are they energy saving?

I can think of so much we all can do, and you’re most welcome to write your own tips here as a comment or on the forum.

We all need to be aware that we will be held responsible on Judgment Day, and that includes not only prayer but also how we treated the place we were to live.