There are messages in it that reek of hypocrisy. Mainly the idea that undeveloped countries shouldn’t develop as richer ones have. It will drive further climate change. This one’s a head-scratcher because it’s probably true. But the UN development goals aim to take everyone out of poverty. And climate change is making that harder. How do you resolve this?
I was in Nigeria for a couple of weeks in 2018. A chap named Albert was driving me around. This was his day job. His real ambition was growing his egg farming business, which he pursued tenaciously. I know this because he sold me some eggs I didn’t need (they were delicious). This story is random, but it brings me to a point. Albert wasn’t concerned about climate change. He was concerned about making money.