Sovereign states determine if and how we tackle global climate change – Gary Lewis, UNEP

The world’s political borders do no justice to the climate crisis. As remarked by Gary Lewis, Director at the Programme and Policy Division at UNEP, the classical concept of state sovereignty must make way to approaches that are as cross-border as climate change itself.

“I think that one of the challenges that we face on the planet is that our diplomacy and the structure of our diplomacy is very much driven by the Westphalian system of thinking where states and flags and anthems are seen as primordial entities.

And if that where ever the case to be valid, it is not the case now, because the challenge that we face on this planet is existential. It's an existential crisis for human civilization. And therefore Westphalian notions of state sovereignty have to give way to a response that is much more broad and much more grand and much more all-inclusive.”

Directed by: Anna Maria Link (adelphi). Produced by: Paul Müller-Hahl (Lichtbilder)