WTO chief hails “new architecture of global governance”

AFP | Nov 9, 2009

MILAN, Italy – Twenty years after the Berlin Wall fell, World Trade Organisation chief Pascal Lamy called Monday for world governance to be strengthened around the G20, international organisations and the UN.

“The fall of the Berlin Wall was indeed a turning point in globalisation, the end of the Cold War led to an unprecedented era of economic openness,” Lamy said in a speech at Bocconi University in Milan, northern Italy.

“And 20 years later the world is in a state of serious distress,” he added, citing the “worst economic crisis”, global warming and nuclear proliferation.

“Global challenges need global solutions and these can only come with the right global governance which today, 20 years later, remains too weak,” he said.

“The global economic crisis… has accelerated towards a sort of new architecture of global governance which I called a triangle of coherence,” he said.

This triangle is composed of the G20 group of wealthy and emerging economies as well as international agencies which report to what Lamy called the “parliament” of the United Nations.

Lamy said that “among the many regional integration attempts, the European Union remains the laboratory of international governance.”

British people to be put on “carbon rationing” and punished for exceeding limits

Everyone in Britain could be given a personal ‘carbon allowance’

Everyone in Britain should have an annual carbon ration and be penalised if they use too much fuel, the head of the Environment Agency will say.

Telegraph | Nov 9, 2009

Lord Smith of Finsbury believes that implementing individual carbon allowances for every person will be the most effective way of meeting the targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

It would involve people being issued with a unique number which they would hand over when purchasing products that contribute to their carbon footprint, such as fuel, airline tickets and electricity.

Like with a bank account, a statement would be sent out each month to help people keep track of what they are using.

If their “carbon account” hits zero, they would have to pay to get more credits.

Those who are frugal with their carbon usage will be able to sell their unused credits and make a profit.

Lord Smith will call for the scheme to be part of a “Green New Deal” to be introduced within 20 years when he addresses the agency’s annual conference on Monday.

An Environment Agency spokesman said only those with “extravagant lifestyles” would be affected by the carbon allowances.

He said: “A lot of people who cycle will get money back. It will probably only be bankers and those with extravagant lifestyles who would lose out.”

However, some have criticised the move as “Orwellian” and say it will have a detrimental impact on business.

Ruth Lea, an economist from Arbuthnot Banking Group, told the Daily Mail: “This is all about control of the individual and you begin to wonder whether this is what the green agenda has always been about. It’s Orwellian. This will be an enormous tax on business.”

Under the Climate Change Act, Britain is obliged to cut its emissions by 80 per cent on 1990 levels by 2050. This means annual CO2 emissions per person will have to fall from about 9 tonnes to only 2 tonnes.