London is one of the world’s great cities. But the fact is, this city is under threat from flooding, rising sea levels, air pollution, energy shortages and the myriad effects of climate change, just like everywhere else.

On this weekend’s United Nations Climate Deal London’s Green MEP Jean Lambert said:

“Overall, I welcome the outcome of COP21 – although it’s not perfect. Personally, I’d rather have seen a commitment at COP21 to a global temperature rise of a maximum 1.5 degrees and legally binding targets but I welcome the ongoing review mechanism in order to give this agreement real traction. Yes, it’s easy to become despondent when compromises are made that make no sense for the planet or ordinary people; but COP21 has at least brought the world together to make commitments on reduction of emissions. However, many governments now need to persuade their finance ministers of the need for real action – not least to ensure that promises made to the world’s poorest countries are kept.

 “The global scientific community has presented the factual evidence for climate change. There’s no hiding from it now and we are seeing the effects of climate change in many parts of the world. Humanity must continue to demand governments act responsibly to avert disaster and provide a better future. Greens will be fighting that fight all the way. COP21 makes no difference there.

“Greens in the European Parliament have long realised that countries cannot beat climate change working alone. And in those terms, compared to Copenhagen in 2009, watching groups of countries work together has been progress in itself. We’ll certainly continue to scrutinise, criticise and offer the most ambitious climate policies in the EU. But action must follow this agreement.”

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Even if an agreement is reached in Paris to limit global warming to 2° Celsius, up to 80 percent of the glaciers in the Himalayas may still be lost by 2100. This was one of the key messages given by Dr. Philippus Wester, chief scientist at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), at a meeting chaired by Jean Lambert MEP in the European Parliament on the effects of climate change in South Asia.

The Himalayan glaciers are a source of freshwater for 10 major river systems in Asia, making it a lifeline for about one third of the world’s population. Dr. Wester highlighted that fact that the whole of Asia is likely to warm this century in line with global average predictions of 2°C, and the increased likelihood of extreme rainfall and drought events. Even more worrying, ICIMOD predicts the Himalayan mountain range will see a temperature increase of about 3-4°C, almost double the global average.

As the meeting was focused on the upcoming COP21 negotiations in Paris, a number of representatives from South Asian embassies also took the floor to outline their position and what they hoped to achieve in Paris. Having heard the mountain perspective, the Ambassador to the Maldives, the country with the lowest natural highest point at 2.4 metres, took the floor to highlight that the country is already dealing with an increase in ‘freak waves’ which threaten to submerge islands entirely. ‘The Maldives fully understands that melting glaciers link to rising sea-levels.’ The Maldives (currently chair of the Alliance of Small Island States) called on the EU to support them in seeking a binding deal in Paris, as without one, the country may soon cease to exist.

The Nepalese representative made the link between Sustainable Development Goal 13 and COP21, highlighting that it is often the most vulnerable countries and people within the countries who feel the impacts of climate change the hardest. With a proposed EU-Bhutan cooperation agreement on climate change on the table, the Bhutanese representative stressed the need for a lot more resources on adaptation and mitigation. Bhutan is one of the only ‘carbon-negative’ countries in the world, its forests absorbing more emissions than the country emits, yet feels the negative effects of climate change like its South Asian neighbours.

Following the meeting, Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP and Chair of the European Parliament South Asia Delegation said:
‘We have heard resoundingly today from intergovernmental organisations and countries alike that it is essential the COP21 negotiations yield a legally binding, ambitious agreement if we are to have a hope at ensuring a sustainable future. South Asia is home to about one third of the world’s population, many of whom are some of the poorest in the world and who depend on the region’s icy mountains for their water. Climate change hits vulnerable people the hardest, and we have seen this happening already with devastating floods, droughts, and heatwaves destroying livelihoods in the region over the past few years.‘

The European Parliament recently voted its position on the upcoming COP21 summit, underlining the need for the EU to push for a binding deal that limits global warming to below 2°C. Jean commented: ‘Small island states are clear – even two degrees is too much to guarantee their survival. And for the mountain water system, plus two degrees at ground level can mean four degrees on Everest. The Paris Conference has to deliver.‘