U.S. and China Pact:
'Climate Change Game Begins in Earnest' (O Globo, Brazil)
"In
Beijing, U.S. President Barack Obama and China President Xi Jinping
recently signed an agreement that sounds like a great first step toward
everything scientists, the United Nations, environmentalists and climate
experts have been begging for. … Together, the two giants account for 45
percent of all of the world's air pollution. Their initiative sends the message
that the game has begun in earnest."
The commitment to cut greenhouse
gas emissions by the U.S. and China, which account for 45 percent of global
pollution, puts pressure on Brazil, Russia and India.
A lot of work has already been done to curb global warming, the
source of global climate change. Overall, though, the feeling is that these
efforts fall far short of what is needed. Obviously, the guilt lies with world
leaders. In Beijing, U.S. President Barack Obama and China President Xi Jinping recently signed an agreement that sounds like a
great first step toward everything scientists, the United Nations, environmentalists
and climate experts have been begging for.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
Together, the two giants account for 45 percent of all of
the world's air pollution. Their initiative sends the message that the game has
begun in earnest. It is to be hoped that this will convince recalcitrant
countries to definitively commit to cutting emissions at the 2015
summit meeting in Paris.
Under the agreement, Obama
promised to cut emissions of carbon dioxide by 26 percent to 28 percent of 2005
levels by 2025. This is a significant improvement over the target the president
announced in 2009, which was 17 percent of 2005 levels by 2020. Furthermore, this
will require caps on the pollution emitted by new and existing coal-fired power
plants as well as reductions in the emission of other gases such as methane
production and the transport of natural gas, as well as continued investment in
alternative, non-fossil fuels.
Xi Jinping pledged to cut Chinese
emissions by 2030, or “a little earlier.” Between now and then, cleaner sources
will account for 20 percent of all energy generated in the country. This means adding
800 to 1,000 gigawatts of nuclear, wind, solar and other zero-emission
forms of generation - equivalent to the capacity of all coal-fired power plants
in the entire country.
After Obama's defeat in the midterm elections, this
agreement, which raises the climate issue to a new level, shows that his policy
focus on Asia is consistent and may lead him to play a leading role on the climate
issue. Yet he will need the cooperation of Congress - which is now dominated by
Republicans. As for Xi Jinping, his leadership domestically
is reinforced and he sends a message to neighboring countries alarmed by his
aggressive regional policy that he is capable of negotiating and reaching
agreements.
The agreement reached in Beijing resonates particularly
strongly with other major polluters like Brazil, India and Russia. Up to now, India,
the third largest emitter of carbon dioxide, has remained firm on not accepting
reduction targets. It is now expected to review that position.
With regard to Brazil, we know that it has significantly
reduced its emissions of greenhouse gases since 2004, mainly due to a drop in
Amazon deforestation. Nevertheless, a rise in deforestation over the past two years
raises new concerns. Regarding the 2015 climate change summit in Paris, the
country needs to reinforce its commitment to fight global warming by accepting
specific targets for reduced emissions.
Under the agreement, Obama
promised to cut emissions of carbon dioxide by 26 percent to 28 percent of 2005
levels by 2025. This is a significant improvement over the target the president
announced in 2009, which was 17 percent of 2005 levels by 2020. Furthermore, this
will require caps on the pollution emitted by new and existing coal-fired power
plants as well as reductions in the emission of other gases such as methane
production and the transport of natural gas, as well as continued investment in
alternative, non-fossil fuels.
