[WATCH] Environmentalist links climate change to world conflicts

Friends of the Earth Director, Martin Galea de Giovanni claims that climate change is one of the major causes of world conflicts

Martin Galea De Giovanni
Martin Galea De Giovanni
Martin Galea De Giovanni

Friends of the Earth director Martin Galea de Giovanni insists that climate change is one of the major causes of world conflicts right now.

He told MaltaToday that climate change is “a form of violence”.

“The protests in Syria started with a large group of farmers that realized they were running out of crop. Their protest was a plea for help.”

He gave examples of regional conflicts which were a direct result of the lack of access to resources such as water. De Giovanni claims that these conflicts were crossed over as political or religious.

Asked to comment about the effectiveness of meetings between world leaders, such as the Climate Change Summit which is being held in Paris, Friends of the Earth Director says that solutions need to be found on a domestic level.

“I am not saying that these meetings are completely futile, but I think we should focus on finding local solutions,” he explains.

“It is ironic, however, that the Paris Summit is sponsored by large electricity companies. These have no interest in finding a solution,” de Giovanni added.

Friends of the Earth's position focuses on what initiatives people can take, on a local level. “Climate change is an issue of social and environmental justice,” he said.  

“We have the tools and science, but lack will to act” – Alan Deidun

Marine biologist Alan Deidun insists that despite the optimism for the Climate Change Summit held in Paris, countries are still not willing to act.

Alan Deidun
Alan Deidun

“We have the science at hand, we know, for sure of the consequences that climate change is causing and will cause in the future, but still many countries remain idle in front of what is certain”, Deidun said in comments to Maltatoday.

As a marine biologist, Deidun believes that oceans and seas suffer the most as they are the most neglected. He mentioned ocean acidity, among other things, which is getting worse.

“We have to work sustainably,” he said, “because we are working a lot to hold back the effects of climate change, and at the same time we are still considering deep sea mining.”

He claims that although the world has the right tools to take action, leaders tend to take the back seat when it comes to speak about oceans and climate change.

“We have no more excuses, we know what will happen,” he added.

The marine biologist also mentions the fact that oceans have a trans-boundary nature and so taking action becomes more complex. He also called for more advocacies when it comes to marine biology and water.