Be serious about the climate change

The advanced world is non serious about the climate change. This evident from its disinterest in reducing the emission levels in its own back yards and funding the developing countries to switch over to clean technologies. With the inter-dependence of the globe at the highest level it is difficult to ignore these two factors.

The Times of India writes (26 September 2009)

India has demonstrated that it takes the climate change issue seriously: the national action plan on climate change has spelt out the details of
implementation of eight missions and is to soon establish a climate change mitigation authority that will set targets to reduce emissions by 2020. India has a ministry dedicated to promotion of alternative energy and several projects are underway to promote adaptation measures. Far more could be achieved if developed countries deliver the promised financial and technological assistance.

At the New York G20 climate summit convened by UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, there was no discussion by developed economies about providing financial assistance to developing countries or transfer of clean technology. The occasion was used to make speeches that were long on promises and short on specifics. US president Barack Obama promised to contribute to a road map to protect the planet's future. But he gave no details. Scientists recommend that an 80 per cent cut in emissions by the developed countries by 2050 is vital to avert the tipping point in climate change. The long-term goalpost might be unachievable under current circumstances but it provides a benchmark to work with. Meanwhile, improved technology might one day make the target achievable.
Together, the US and China account for 40 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions; hence the need for more concerted action. But Obama's climate change legislation for energy reform is unlikely to be cleared by the Senate before the December Copenhagen summit of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change where members hope to come to an emissions reduction agreement that will replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol due to end in 2012. Senators are currently more concerned about health-care reform, financial stability and the size of troops in Afghanistan than environmental issues. The proposed US legislation, however, is not developing world-friendly as it penalises it in terms of trading rights.

Chinese president Hu Jintao has assured the G20 that China will improve its energy efficiency and curb the rise of CO2 emissions "per unit of gross domestic product by a notable margin by 2020 from the 2005 level" but he failed to elaborate how China would achieve this and by how much emissions would be cut. Similarly, although Obama made promises of "a new era of renewable energy promotion and carbon emissions cuts", he did not elaborate if there is a plan in place. That the US and China are presenting a positive and united approach without a specific action plan could mean that the Copenhagen summit will achieve little more than getting the representatives of 192 member countries to visit Denmark at the further expense of the planet. Be