Leaders of the World have congregated at Cancun, a coastal city in Mexico's easternmost state, Quintana Roo, with a vision of ‘commitment and compromise’ to mitigate the escalating menaces of climate change. Copenhagen Summit, held in December 2009, failed to reach at any consensus for a legally binding agreement, however, it did re-affirm the UNFCCC principles and with the help of BASIC countries accorded a non-binding accord. The torrential floods in Pakistan, fires in Russia and cloud burst in India are enough to presage the amount of impacts on poor and vulnerable section of our society. It has enabled us to foresee a glimpse of future and thereby secure our environment with utmost priority and commitment.

Climate change not only deteriorates and mutates our natural environment but also infuses social stress in the world. Morton Kaplan in his book Coming Anarchy, aptly summarises the consequences of environmental induced scarcity which will deteriorate the harmony of the society. Thomas F. Homer-Dixon too predicts that environmental induced scarcity will lead to violent conflicts in some parts of the world. Further, he identifies six plausible causes of violent intergroup conflict. Firstly, greenhouse-induced climate change; secondly, stratospheric ozone depletion; thirdly, degradation and loss of good agricultural land; fourthly, degradation and removal of forests; fifthly, depletion and pollution of fresh water supplies; and lastly depletion of fisheries. Climate Cataclysm, edited by Kurt Campbell, outlines the three plausible scenarios of future compelled by climate change and their impacts on the earth and life therein.

Our leaders once again failed to understand the complexity and perilous threats of climate change and build a legally binding mechanism to mitigate the effects before we peril. Cancun offered such an opportunity for leaders to deliver a mechanism to fill the gap of Kyoto Protocol. Let’s briefly outline the bone of contention which hindered a universal commitment to mitigate the climate change.

How to take mitigation actions forward, this was the first obstacle on the path of Cancun Summit. From Bali Road map to Cancun Summit, 2010, all 37 industrialised nations and 42 developing countries, including the largest emerging economies, submitted targets and voluntary actions to reduce or limit greenhouse gas emissions. These mitigation promises need to be formalised with greater priority.

Thus, the ‘accountability’ for implementation of mitigation targets and actions obstructed any chances of an agreement. 

Secondly, the mobilization of long-term financial resources, the creation of a new fund and the accompanying accountability of its delivery, along with the understanding of fairness that will guide long-term mitigation efforts of climate change once again came to the table at Cancun.

Thirdly, there is a need to avoid a gap after the first commitment period and the importance of having clarity on the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol, along with the continuation of engaging the private sector through the Kyoto Protocol market mechanisms beyond 2012. 

Can leaders of the World, in near future, reach a deal to launch action on adaptation, technology transfer and forests along with creating a new fund for long-term climate finance?" When the stakes are high and issues are challenging, compromise is an act of wisdom that can unite different positions in creative ways” said Christiana Figueres, UNFCCC Executive Secretary. She further adds that outcome needs to be both ‘firm and dependable’ and have a dedicated follow-on process for future work.

Developed states have to accept their past mistake of ‘stocked’ Green House Gases and thereby take responsibility for ‘green development’ in developing countries by assisting them financially and by transferring green technology, so that these states do not fail in their efforts for sustainable development -- development is only the means which will minimise the effects of climate change on the poor and vulnerable strata of society. In addition, development also enables individuals to have greater freedom, thereby ensuring a just society. On the other hand, developing countries should adopt ‘green technology and clean energy’ for their industries thereby not contributing much to ‘flow’ of GHGs. This will foster the path of sustainable development in these states thereby avoiding any violent intra-society conflict to arise out from environmental scarcity.  

Apart from ensuring a mechanism to mitigate the climate change and sustainable development, World leaders have to focus on four crucial issues: infrastructure, migration, water security and food security. Climate change adversely affects the existing infrastructure and thus needs to be modified accordingly. Environmental induced migrations will bring social and cultural tension hampering the social fabric. Demands of water will increase to fulfil the demands of agriculture, industry and energy, deepening the water crisis. Contaminated water sources and uneven distribution of water will further deteriorate the crisis. It is estimated that more than one out of six people lacks access to safe drinking water, namely 1.1 billion people, and more than two out of six lack adequate sanitation, namely 2.6 billion people (WHO/UNICEF JMP, 2004). More critically, 3,900 children die every day from water borne diseases (WHO 2004). World is already experiencing food crisis in parts of Africa and Asia. FAO estimates that globally 925 million people are undernourished in 2010. And most of the world’s hungry live in developing countries. Highly volatile food prices worsen malnutrition and poverty thereby aggravating the conditions of people living under conflict, instability and drought. Climate change will terribly change the course of agricultural pattern. It is pertinent to adapt to draught resistant seeds and invest in research and development in the field of agriculture to produce enough grains to feed the entire world. It is estimated that $14 billion/year is needed in public agriculture investment for all developing countries to halve hunger and poverty by 2015. Therefore, World leaders must ensure a stable world food market to achieve food security together with research and development in agriculture. 

An acceptable and comprehensive agreement, based on ‘differential principles’, would have been an ideal model to fill the gap of Kyoto, scheduled to expire in 2012 and mitigate the consequences of climate change and strengthen a just and harmonious world. Essentially, leaders have to come out with a broader perspective to strengthen the world system and adapt it to climate change, ensuring better food and sustainable development.