摘要：World Environment Day (WED) 2008 uses the theme of Kick the C02 Habit to catalyze grassroots action on the challenge of this generation — climate change. It is more than a strong and catchy phrase. If we are to move the global economy to a greener and cleaner one, a sharp reduction in the inefficient use of fossil fuels allied to an increased up take of renewable energy must be at the centre of the international response. There are also powerful arguments in favour of the making the transition ‘Towards a Low Carbon Economy’, with ever clearer evidence that this represents a huge opportunity rather than a burden. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), established by UNEP and the World Meteorological Organisation, concludes that greening the global economy might cost as little as a few tenths of global GDP annually over the next 30 years. It will also be a driving force for innovation, new businesses and industries and employment opportunities across the developed and developing worlds. There are already many encouraging signs. Earlier this year UNEP launched its climate neutral network (CN Net). Countries, including Costa Rica, Norway and New Zealand, our main host for the global WED celebrations in 2008, are among the early movers. These countries, alongside a growing number of corporations and cities, are demonstrating that reducing emissions and engaging in carbon markets brings not only environmental benefits, but social and economic ones too.
