Geoscience Policy Monthly Review
november 2014
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environment
U.S. signs climate change agreement with China
November 12, 2014
On November 12, President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a climate change agreement, pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions and collaborate in an international effort to combat global temperature rise.
Under the agreement, China pledged to reach peak emissions by 2030 at the latest, before reductions come into effect. It will also transition 20 percent of its energy share to non-fossil fuel sources in the same time period by investing in nuclear, wind, solar, and other zero-emission energy technologies. The United States pledge to reduce emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025, with the ultimate goal of an 80 percent cut in emissions by midcentury.
Critics of the deal have expressed concern that the agreement is disproportionate, with more stringent, potentially economically-prohibitive requirements for the U.S., while China has 16 years before emission cuts come into effect. Critics also argue that the deal is not a binding agreement and includes no enforcement mechanisms.
President Obama and other supporters of the deal hope that an agreement between the world’s two largest economies will set a precedent for future international collaboration on efforts to curb global climate change. The breakthrough has already been hailed as a positive precursor for the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Lima, Peru in December.
Sources: E&E News, New York Times
IPCC releases report warning of consequences of climate change
November 3, 2014
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report on November 3 that synthesizes its published findings on climate change over the last 13 months. The report summarizes observed and predicted changes to the climate, the risks and impacts of these changes, and strategies for adaptation and mitigation for policy makers. The IPCC is a scientific organization set up by the U.N. that produces reports summarizing the most current science on climate change and its socioeconomic impacts.
The authors warn of “severe, pervasive, and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems” if greenhouse gas emissions continue at present rates. However, they also suggest that these risks may be mitigated if emissions can be reduced by 40 to 70 percent by 2050 compared to 2010 levels, and if we can cease emitting carbon dioxide from electricity, transportation, industry, and residential and commercial sectors by 2100.
Recent international climate negotiations have stalled over disagreements on whether to emphasize emissions reductions or adaptation strategies, but the IPCC report issues a strong statement that both are necessary: “Adaptation can reduce the risks of climate change impacts, but there are limits to its effectiveness, particularly if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced.”
Sources: E&E News, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change