On the occasion of the COP21, which opens early on Sunday in Le Bourget, as in the fight against terrorism after the bloody attacks of 13 November, "... France wants to lead the broadest coalition for life "says François Hollande in an interview with the Express.
Por the President of the Republic, the fight against climate change and the fight against terrorism are linked: "The fight against climate change and the fight against terrorism are linked. But it's the same fight ». For François Hollande, this fight is " that which consists on the one hand in protecting humanity from the actions of death carried out by the "Islamic State" (Daech), which strike the whole world much more than France. And on the other hand, to preserve the planet from our own inconsequences, which may be, tomorrow, sources of conflict and war. With the same urgency. "He sums up this idea in a formula: " The fanaticism that's killing today. And the indifference that consumes our planet. "
The President explains why Paris, the seat of COP21, will become the beacon of light for the world: " I knew Paris was a symbol. I had no idea that the attacks of November 13 would remind us of it with such intensity. Our capital has known at certain moments in history to be the capital of the world. It was here that the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was proclaimed in 1789, and a revolution was launched that knew no borders. "He goes on, calling for a human revolution: " It is still in Paris, in December 2015, that the rights of humanity must be enshrined. And it will indeed be a kind of revolution if almost all the States of the world approve a binding agreement including obligations and financial commitments. "
The dispute over the binding effects of the agreement are swept aside by the Head of State. For him, " at COP 21, it will not be enough to say good words, we will also have to commit to binding targets. ». This commitment must be universal, including also emerging countries. But the rich countries, he reminds us, have a duty of responsibility. They must " be exemplary in terms of financing and industrial choices ». In this respect, it welcomes Barack Obama's firm stance in refusing to authorise the giant oil pipeline project between Canada and the United States.
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Asked about the greenwashing of companies that, taking advantage of the COP21 effect, communicate on their environmental excellence, the Chairman replied: "... the greenwashing of companies that are taking advantage of the COP21 effect is a good way to promote environmental excellence. Is it greenwashing? I do not know, but one thing is certain: the greenwashing, which consisted of making fun of environmentally virtuous initiatives, is well and truly over. I do not think that large companies will be able to continue to pollute shamelessly while maintaining a good image. The example of Volkswagen has shown that the lack of transparency - let alone cheating - is paid for in cash. "
François Hollande calls for politics to find, " through the climate challenge of new foundations". He continues: These subjects bring us back to the question of the collective. Not the collective that oppresses, but the collective that liberates, since it is on the choice of others that our own future depends, which is the most beautiful definition of solidarity. To consider that ecology can only be partisan would be to reduce it to an otherwise legitimate sensibility, but it must permeate all our decisions. "
Finally, on the mobilization generated by COP21, paraphrasing André Malraux' famous phrase "the 21st century will be religious or it will not be" François Hollande asserts: "The 21st century will be religious or it will not be". I'd say everybody's gonna be an environmentalist or the world won't be ".
(Source : L'Express - 25 November 2015)
Photo: E. STATION/PASCOANDCO FOR THE EXPRESS TRAIN
