Copenhagen Accord: Warming Strategies
Posted : December 20, 2009 at 5:18 am [IST]
Winter this year has still not set in its normal severity of New Delhi. Surprisingly, NDTV India reported early mango crops from Malihabad, Ghaziabad in UP and even in Gujarat. And as many fear it’s because of increasing global warming caused by the emission all over the world, the result of the life style of the developed and developing world. But the reports on the horrendous effect of global warming appearing every day in media shock every sane citizen. Can we think of the death of Holy Ganga and the disappearance of many coastal areas of the country? And for saving the Mother Earth, Copenhagen was the only hope.
COPENHAGEN DEAL
” No reference to legally binding agreement
” Recognises the need to limit global temperatures rising no more than 2C above pre-industrial levels
” Developed countries to “set a goal of mobilising jointly $100bn a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries”
” On transparency: Emerging nations monitor own efforts and report to UN every two years. Some international checks
” No detailed framework on carbon markets - “various approaches” will be pursued
A deal had finally been done. Delegates have agreed to “take note” of the American-led Copenhagen Accord. I admire Obama who saved Copenhagen from a total fizzle. He did what 115 world leaders present in Copenhagen couldn’t. Obama perhaps could see that with 192 countries with its delegates in thousands, it was not possible to have consensus. So he tried the next best with those who mattered in the changing global politics. Barack Obama brokered an accord with China, India, Brazil and South Africa. Many countries felt bad about the exclusion from the vital-few group who made the accord, but perhaps this was the only way. As Mr Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General, said, “The Copenhagen Accord may not be everything everyone had hoped for, but this decision…is an important beginning.” The accord may not be a comprehensive one as desired by many, but it is a good beginning and perhaps the right first step under the prevailing circumstances.
Each country is to submit its own plans for cutting carbon emissions to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius.
The United States has committed to reduce emissions by 17 percent by 2020, and to make deeper cuts, up to 80 percent, by 2050. India committed to improve energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. China that can do the maximum damage has shown confidence in cutting its emission by around 40%. The Chinese Prime Minister’s claims and promises at Copenhagen were really impressive.
According to Wen, the Chinese Premier, ‘Between 2005 and 2008, renewable energy in China increased by 51 percent, representing an annual growth rate of 14.7 percent and in 2008, the use of renewable energy reached an equivalent of 250 million tons of standard coal. A total of 30.5 million rural households gained access to bio-gas, equivalent to a reduction of 49 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. China ranked first in the world in terms of installed hydro-power capacity, nuclear power capacity under construction, the coverage of solar water heating panels and photovoltaic power capacity.China had continued with “the largest-scale endeavor to return farmland to forest and expand a forestation, and made vigorous efforts to increase the forest carbon sink. Between 2003 and 2008, China’s forest coverage registered a net increase of 20.54 million hectares and forest stock volume rose by1.123 billion cubic meters. The total area of man-made forests in China had reached 54 million hectares, the largest in the world. India must go greener than China, and it can.
I recently read about the small step of some enthusiast in Bihar for the greening Tirhut region. I wish every panchayat focus on the tree plantation and involve the community. During my trip to south I saw the impressive wind mill farms. With or without Copenhagen deal, each country of the world must try to save the earth through compulsory volunteered approaches from the impending disaster.
- Indra
Category: Government Policy/Administration |
Leave a Comment