Adil Najam was recently interviewed by The Express Tribune (Karachi, Pakistan). Read an excerpt below and the full interview here.
The challenge now lies in the fact that the problem itself is escalating much faster than our incremental progress. Our slow advancement is insufficient. What could and should have happened is a greater emphasis on a negotiated treaty. Returning to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and establishing meaningful, implementable commitments would be ideal. I would have preferred actual commitments outlining the phasedown of fossil fuels by a certain percentage by a specified date, with consequences if not achieved.
Let’s reconsider this as a treaty, reinstating the structure where you either fulfill your commitments or face consequences. We’ve veered too far into the realm of the Instagram COP. It’s time to return to the rigorous task of treaty-making, focusing on implementable commitments by countries.
