Climate change as dangerous as terrorism: Kerry

Image
AP Washington
Last Updated : Jul 22 2016 | 8:28 PM IST
US Secretary of State John Kerry said today that climate change is as dangerous as, if not more than, the threats posed by the Islamic State and other extremist groups.
Speaking today in Vienna at an international climate change conference, Kerry said the issue might not get as much public attention as terrorism but that the meeting is as important as a Thursday gathering he hosted in Washington on combatting the Islamic State.
"What you are doing here right now is of equal importance, because it has the ability literally to save life on this planet," Kerry told the conference of parties to the 1987 Montreal Protocol, a global treaty to end the use of many chlorofluorocarbons from aerosols and refrigerants that deplete the ozone layer.
Treaty members have claimed some success including a healing of an ozone hole over Antarctica but they are now trying to adopt an amendment that would phase out substances that replaced chlorofluorocarbons hydrochlorofluorocarbons, which pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Participants in the Vienna meeting hope to find consensus on an amendment that could be adopted at the next meeting of the parties in Kigali, Rwanda, in October.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jul 22 2016 | 8:28 PM IST

Next Story