UN CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE (COP21)

Muhammad Mumtaz. (The writer is a PhD fellow in Public Administration & Govt at FGV-Sao Paulo, Brazil)

The twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) is due to be held between November 30 to December 11 this year. The COP is supreme body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Main objective of the COP is to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate from all the nations of the world.

It is estimated that the temperature of the world will rise up of 4C by the end of this century. Some studies are indicating that the rise in temperature will be even more than the projected temperature if the challenge of climate change is not tackled properly. Greenhouse Gases (GHG) are one of the major reasons for climate change, causing the rise in temperature, and ultimately threatening the planet.  

It is indicated that natural causes do not explain most observed warming, especially warming since the mid-20th century. It is extremely likely that human activities have been the dominant cause of that warming. The industrialized nations are more responsible for emission of the GHG. Only 7 developed countries account for more than 60% of total GHG emission in the world. 

The National Academy of Sciences indicated that the present concentration level of the GHG in the atmosphere is unprecedented in the past million years which is a very alarming sign. It is imperative to act in order to maintain the temperature of earth and to overcome the projected fatal impacts from such rise in temperature.

The conference is more important than any other universal agreement. It is important to highlight that the focus of the conference is to stabilize the concentrations of the GHG in the atmosphere and to bring it at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic impacts on the climate system of the earth.

It is expected that the world leaders will sign a climate accord in which all nations will agree to take constructive steps to reduce the GHG emissions. The success of the conference is expectedly high as various nations from every corner of the world have accepted the reality of climate change and ready to take resolvable measures. Some of the major emitter of the GHG like United States, China and Canada etc are agreed and offering to take steps to control the emission of the GHG. The recognition of climate change from these countries is a very positive development as previously these developed countries were far away from accepting the reality of climate change. The US is committed to reduce the emission upto 25-26% and to bring at the level of 2005 by 2025. China not only is ready to cut its GHG emissions per unit of gross domestic product by 60-65% from 2005 levels but would increase the share of non-fossil fuels as part of its primary energy consumption to about 20% by 2030. Many other countries have also submitted their commitments to reduce the GHG.

Latin America and Brazil, in particular has a key role in climate talks. It is worth noting that about 25% of the world’s arable land, 22% of its forests, and 31% of fresh water are found in Latin America. Brazil has presented its plan for the conference stating it would cut its emissions by 37% by 2025 through fighting deforestation and boosting the share of renewable in its energy mix.

One of the prominent features of the conference is to make an agreement based on voluntary basis which should be verifiable and contributively. This voluntary approach is adopted new technique in comparison with the Kyoto Protocol (KP). This voluntary step will likely to bring positive result keeping in view the minor contribution of the KP. In the KP it was proposed that emissions abatement would take place from top-down emitters’ countries and it excluded developing countries. However, the present agreement will equally be applicable to all nationals including developing world.

Climate change is an established global phenomenon and it is debated and discussed around the globe. It is the responsibility of everyone to act to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to the problem. Religious scholars, experts and teachers from around the world are united and have the same opinion about climate change which can be one of harbingers for an agreement at the conference.

The religious communities even have issued comprehensive statements on climate change and stressed to confront the challenge. Back in 2005, Islamic leaders issued climate change declaration in Istanbul, Turkey. In the declaration, it is addressed 1.6bn Muslims around the world to work towards phasing out the GHG emissions by 2050 and a 100% renewable energy strategy.

Likewise Pope Francis has a clear-cut stance on climate change. He considers climate change as a ‘principal challenge’ for humanity. He issued a comprehensive document on climate change. He called on humanity to collectively acknowledge a ‘sense of responsibility for our fellow men and women upon which all civil society is founded’.  In his one of prominent addresses while highlighting the issue of climate change he stressed ‘Climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation’. This is yet another religious strong commitment to curb the GHG emission.

One of other key objectives of the conference is to raise $100 billion per year by the developed countries from 2020. Such funds are very important to counter climate change keeping in view many developing countries lack considerable finances to address climate change. This commitment should enable developing countries to combat climate change properly and it would be helpful to promote sustainable development as well in these countries. It is believed and well perceived by the commitment of developed world that such funds would be established and provided to poor nations to manage climate change.

Many international key players have launched not only national deliberation on climate change but also focusing on international diplomacy in this regard. The conference is recognized as a defining event for the entire globe and the results of the conference will certainly have global implications too. Stakeholders are extremely committed and are debating the way forward and strategies in various parts of the world so that a comprehensive pact can be attained.

Based on aforementioned developments and commitments showed by various countries specially developed world, it is hoped that the world will come up with an appropriate solution. It is highly likely that the conference will bring a positive and balanced way forward for the whole world. Climate campaigners and many experts see an opportunity in the conference and they believe that affords the best chance for agreeing to worldwide reductions in the GHG emissions.

The twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) is due to be held between November 30 to December 11 this year. The COP is supreme body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Main objective of the COP is to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate from all the nations of the world.

It is estimated that the temperature of the world will rise up of 4C by the end of this century. Some studies are indicating that the rise in temperature will be even more than the projected temperature if the challenge of climate change is not tackled properly. Greenhouse Gases (GHG) are one of the major reasons for climate change, causing the rise in temperature, and ultimately threatening the planet.  

It is indicated that natural causes do not explain most observed warming, especially warming since the mid-20th century. It is extremely likely that human activities have been the dominant cause of that warming. The industrialized nations are more responsible for emission of the GHG. Only 7 developed countries account for more than 60% of total GHG emission in the world. 

The National Academy of Sciences indicated that the present concentration level of the GHG in the atmosphere is unprecedented in the past million years which is a very alarming sign. It is imperative to act in order to maintain the temperature of earth and to overcome the projected fatal impacts from such rise in temperature.

The conference is more important than any other universal agreement. It is important to highlight that the focus of the conference is to stabilize the concentrations of the GHG in the atmosphere and to bring it at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic impacts on the climate system of the earth.

It is expected that the world leaders will sign a climate accord in which all nations will agree to take constructive steps to reduce the GHG emissions. The success of the conference is expectedly high as various nations from every corner of the world have accepted the reality of climate change and ready to take resolvable measures. Some of the major emitter of the GHG like United States, China and Canada etc are agreed and offering to take steps to control the emission of the GHG. The recognition of climate change from these countries is a very positive development as previously these developed countries were far away from accepting the reality of climate change. The US is committed to reduce the emission upto 25-26% and to bring at the level of 2005 by 2025. China not only is ready to cut its GHG emissions per unit of gross domestic product by 60-65% from 2005 levels but would increase the share of non-fossil fuels as part of its primary energy consumption to about 20% by 2030. Many other countries have also submitted their commitments to reduce the GHG.

Latin America and Brazil, in particular has a key role in climate talks. It is worth noting that about 25% of the world’s arable land, 22% of its forests, and 31% of fresh water are found in Latin America. Brazil has presented its plan for the conference stating it would cut its emissions by 37% by 2025 through fighting deforestation and boosting the share of renewable in its energy mix.

One of the prominent features of the conference is to make an agreement based on voluntary basis which should be verifiable and contributively. This voluntary approach is adopted new technique in comparison with the Kyoto Protocol (KP). This voluntary step will likely to bring positive result keeping in view the minor contribution of the KP. In the KP it was proposed that emissions abatement would take place from top-down emitters’ countries and it excluded developing countries. However, the present agreement will equally be applicable to all nationals including developing world.

Climate change is an established global phenomenon and it is debated and discussed around the globe. It is the responsibility of everyone to act to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to the problem. Religious scholars, experts and teachers from around the world are united and have the same opinion about climate change which can be one of harbingers for an agreement at the conference.

The religious communities even have issued comprehensive statements on climate change and stressed to confront the challenge. Back in 2005, Islamic leaders issued climate change declaration in Istanbul, Turkey. In the declaration, it is addressed 1.6bn Muslims around the world to work towards phasing out the GHG emissions by 2050 and a 100% renewable energy strategy.

Likewise Pope Francis has a clear-cut stance on climate change. He considers climate change as a ‘principal challenge’ for humanity. He issued a comprehensive document on climate change. He called on humanity to collectively acknowledge a ‘sense of responsibility for our fellow men and women upon which all civil society is founded’.  In his one of prominent addresses while highlighting the issue of climate change he stressed ‘Climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation’. This is yet another religious strong commitment to curb the GHG emission.

One of other key objectives of the conference is to raise $100 billion per year by the developed countries from 2020. Such funds are very important to counter climate change keeping in view many developing countries lack considerable finances to address climate change. This commitment should enable developing countries to combat climate change properly and it would be helpful to promote sustainable development as well in these countries. It is believed and well perceived by the commitment of developed world that such funds would be established and provided to poor nations to manage climate change.

Many international key players have launched not only national deliberation on climate change but also focusing on international diplomacy in this regard. The conference is recognized as a defining event for the entire globe and the results of the conference will certainly have global implications too. Stakeholders are extremely committed and are debating the way forward and strategies in various parts of the world so that a comprehensive pact can be attained.

Based on aforementioned developments and commitments showed by various countries specially developed world, it is hoped that the world will come up with an appropriate solution. It is highly likely that the conference will bring a positive and balanced way forward for the whole world. Climate campaigners and many experts see an opportunity in the conference and they believe that affords the best chance for agreeing to worldwide reductions in the GHG emissions.