Rafael Correa Highlights the Unfair Reality of Climate Change

The global environmental crisis is not just a technical problem but also a political one, Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa said on Monday at the United Nations General Assembly.

President Correa went on to add that the issue of climate change must be solved through environmental justice.

During his speech, President Correa highlighted the unfair reality of climate change citing that Ecuador accounts for less than 1 percent of the world's CO2 emissions, yet, it like many other countries in the south are most negatively affected by climate change.

The Ecuadorean leader went added that policies aimed at combatting climate change should be carried out in conjunction with consideration for the social and economic development priorities of developing countries.

“Environmental conservation in poor countries will not be possible unless there is clear evidence of an improvement in quality of life,” Correa stated.

Nevertheless, President Correa stressed the importance of reaching a legally binding environmental agreement at the upcoming COP 21 conference in Paris despite the ongoing debate over the question of fairness in terms of globally mandated carbon cuts. 

​Finally, during his speech, Correa discussed the importance of eliminating economic disparities between rich and poor countries adding, “the greatest moral imperative on the planet is to overcome poverty.”