POST PARIS – NEW DAWN NEW DAY

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To quote from Avaaz “World leaders at the UN climate talks have just set a landmark goal that can save everything we love! ” To see the full Avaaz announcement click We did it! — A turning point in human history

See see Carbon Briefs initial assessment of the agreement here. Also see a Quick Guide to the Paris Agreement from The Conversation. (See topics at ‘more’)

The devil is in the detail so click here for the formal Adoption of the Paris Agreement 12th Dec 2015 or, for quick extracts of the main points and Whys, Hows, Whens and Whos click here.  Click here for the Intended National Determined Contributions (INDCs).

Note that the UK’s INDC pledge is within this joint submission under the European Union (strangely submitted by Latvia for the whole of the EU). “At least 40% domestic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from a 1990 base year.”

The Carbon Brief update includes a post Paris audio interview with Amber Rudd, Secretary of State for the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

Ms Rudd stressed the support that the UK Government has given to achieving this agreement and some pertinent views included:

  • The UK’s targets are already lower than the overall EU INDCs
  • The references to rises of 1.5degC are ‘aspirational’, and the UK are currently working to an ‘operational’ target of 2degC.
  • She will work with the Committee on Climate Change to consider any changes to UK policy due to this agreement. Any changes will continue to consider security of supply and value for money for bill payers.
  • She believes that the agreement and the UK policies provide clarity and certainty to investors in low carbon.
  • The main UK renewable energy initiative is to hold auctions for more offshore wind capacity.
  • She is uncertain of the role of Carbon Capture and Storage in the UK in the near future
  • The UK Government will double its spend on innovation.

This UK approach does not really accord with the highlights of the actual agreement from The Conversation:

  • Warming level – aim at 1.5degC
  • A carbon budget to be lower than 3.6 trillion tonnes of Greenhouse gases
  • Pledges from 185 countries with a remaining 11 requested for next year
  • Pledged targets to be reviewed every 5 years, as, taken together, they are insufficient to meet even 2degC
  • Rich countries ‘required’ to meet targets, whilst ‘developing countries’ only encouraged to
  • ‘Developing countries’ to receive $100bn a year by 2020 to assist with removing emissions
  • No compensation liable from developed countries for loss and damage caused to other countries
  • ‘Developed Countries’ to report progress on emissions reductions every 2 years. Other countries may choose to do so.