New Aussie government says rich and poor need to address climate change

Absolutely. While traveling in Egypt last summer this exact subject was often raised with many Westerners giving a free pass to poor countries on climate change. The argument that I often heard was that countries such as Egypt don't have any money so the rich nations ought to be paying for everything and leading this. I completely agree that the rich nations could do a heck of a lot more to help poor countries face this issue, it's a flimsy excuse and I don't buy in to the theory of helplessness.

While traveling through Sinai, I was disgusted with the uncontrolled growth that led to rubbish everywhere including in the Sea of Aqaba. Tourists who go to Sinai primarily go to see the magic underwater, which could be beautiful and also horribly disappointing. Wealthy developers from Cairo are taking in money, hand over fist but I doubt the high times will last very long considering the complete disrespect for Mother Nature. Who will pay good money to see trashed coral and a fish graveyard? I am familiar enough with the financial dynamics of such economies and refuse to accept that they can't afford to take action. They can't afford not to take action.

Hiring people to promote cleaner tourism and picking up rubbish is a very small price to pay in a place such as Sinai. For a dollar or two per day, you can hire someone who will gladly jump on the opportunity for employment. The problem is that the wealthy developers who will be gone tomorrow, sitting on the weatlth that they collected, have no interest in tomorrow. They always have friendly political connections and moan about how they can't afford any such investment but this argument is the same kind of greed that we hear from business in the US who supposedly can't afford regulation.

Can the rich nations help? Of course and they should. They could educate, provide startup funding to launch programs, lobby governments who are receiving funds and much more, but to say the poor nations are helpless in this struggle is false. Maybe our next government will be more creative with diplomacy and get such programs moving. Hats off to the new Austalian government for speaking out and suggesting that all countries, rich and poor, are active participants. It is empowering and a more progressive approach compared to what we have today. All of us can make a difference in one way or another.