Hartwell Paper slams environmental legislation

The UN has failed to reduce carbon emissions and limit the effects of climate change, scientists have said.

Fourteen academics across the world have released the Hartwell Paper, a report expressing their criticisms of the UN's environmental legislation to restrain climate change.

In the paper, the scientists propose an increased investment in non-carbon energy sources.

Speaking to the BBC, lead author Professor Gwyn Prins said: "The raising up of human dignity is the central drive of the Hartwell Paper, replacing the preoccupation with human sinfulness that has failed … to deliver progress."

The paper criticises the UN's use of carbon tax revenue to develop technologies and instead calls for "pragmatic" options to reduce emissions, by developing non-carbon energy supplies.

According to the BBC, the scientists believe these practices will be able to supply 1.5 billion people with electricity without the use of low-carbon technologies.

In 1997, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) introduced the Kyoto Protocol. As part of the pact, 37 industrialised countries committed to reduce their carbon emissions by five per cent against their 1990 levels by 2012.

Posted by Lauren Steadman