Page 178 - Supplemento 2-2016 (ENG)

Francesco la camera

quences for the yield of the crops. Therefore it’s essential that the developed
countries contribute to solve this problem. The part of economic growth that
is possible in terms of the increase in CO2 emissions, should be distributed so
as to ensure the conversion of the economic system towards a contribution to
the balance between the use of resources and their regeneration time, suppor-
ting the decarbonisation of economic activities and making sure that the savings
in emission can be made available for the growth of poorer countries.

This idea of justice is not limited to an abstract call to equality of oppor-
tunities but it assumes a wider dimension recognizing the right of every human
being to an equal portion of natural resources and the same quota of allowed
pollution, together with a series of social services to be achieved according to
their own scale of values and objectives.

The idea of justice in the Paris Agreement is based on recognizing diffe-
rences. The Agreement mentions different responsibilities and capacities of
various countries. It mentions the necessity to insure that the institutions work
harder for the developing countries, to insure the diffusion of technologies, to
give justice also in terms of reparation or compensation for the damages inflic-
ted by economic growth. I would like to conclude with a reference to something
I wrote in the past, which I think is still topical. I will just read from the slide.

By now it is evident that the limits in the overall capacity of the environ-
ment to sustain economic activities and the quality of life itself impose a net
ethical dimension. We cannot ignore any longer the call for justice coming from
the part of the world that lacks a minimal share of the means to realize its
human potential and it’s marginalized and pushed into uncertainty, poverty and
social exclusion. Here we may ask ourselves: will humankind be able to lead to
a society that is ready to assume its responsibilities towards future generations,
today’s outcasts, the world’s poor? A society that is capable of working towards
realizing the potential of each of its components, where economic activities
and institutions interact harmoniously with the environment?

The answer is very difficult. Sometimes, in the light of the behaviour we
witness, I would say I don’t believe so, but at the same time I will state that I
strongly hope so.

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