Some personal remarks

Today it gets a bit personal and subjective, sorry for that. Ok, it is quite inevitable that on the occasion of G8 some “selected” men come together, men which have met the selection criteria of a political system, as it is today in the early 21st century, sometimes a strange fabric of political, of media and economic power. Great opportunity to see the elected leaders Bush, Berlusconi and Sarkozy at one place and analyzing their different “semiotics of power”. When I watch the scene, their “tv faces”, their postures then there seems to be some contrast to the severity of the situation ahead (maybe I am somehow biased as a futurist and analyst).

All just looks like a “business as usual” thing – and this is a bit shocking.

The communiqué says: “We seek to share with all parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change….the goal of achieving at least 50 per cent reduction of global emissions by 2050.”

… On mid-term targets, it says: “We acknowledge our leadership role and each of us will implement ambitious economy-wide mid-term goals in order to achieve absolute emissions reductions and, where applicable, first stop the growth of emissions as soon as possible.”

The latter phrase appears to be an accommodation to the US position, which is that it will stabilise emissions by 2020 before cutting them after that.

Peter Grant, international director of Tearfund, an advocy group, said: “Concrete commitments on climate change are the acid test of success at this summit. The G8 are crawling forward on emissions cuts at a time when giant leaps and bounds are needed.” FT.com / In depth – G8 leaders reach deal on climate change

And then the inevitable “symbol production” for the always hungry media society – seven men and one woman are planting those little trees (of hope – and we need a lot of hope with these type of politicians). And in this moment they look even less like the leaders I could have the confidence to solve the coming global super crisis.

(Image source: Screenshot FT.com / In depth – G8 leaders reach deal on climate change)