Environmental Minutes: COP24 2018 Wrap-up
From 12/2 to 12/14, COP24, the most important climate conference since the 2015 Paris agreement, was held in Katowice, Poland. Three years ago, with endless rounds of applause and pleasurable tears, 190 countries have pledged to mitigate the global temperature increase under 2°C within this century. However, the truth showed that we still have a long way to go to save us from the climate havoc ahead of us.
The commitment in the past 5 years was insufficient and too slow, pointed out by the United Nations Environment Program(UNEP) during the summit. ”Countries should triple their efforts and limit their greenhouse gas(GHG) emission at a faster pace to achieve the Paris agreement.”
The chaotic global politics is one of the main reasons that curtailed the progress: The risk of the withdrawal from the Paris agreement, incited by Donald Trump, kept growing among certain OPEC countries; Brazil, the 7th largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world, showed no more intention to hold the next COP after its new far-right president was elected; Some developed countries, such as Japan, were not too motivated to participate in the discussion, not to mention reforming their domestic policy towards renewable energy.
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Europe, which often pioneers in the climate change issue, seems to display more determination than its fellows. The European commission envisions to achieve its carbon neutrality policy in 2050, a measure that balances the CO2 emission with equivalent offset even though that might indicate the probable tariff reinforcement on the countries that threaten the Paris agreement.
Countries reunited again to adjust their pathways towards GHG reduction*2
According to UNEP, the gap between the current GHG emission and the targets set up in 2005 is still widening. As the data showed, after three consecutive years of being stable, global CO2 emissions are augmenting again, showing an increase of 1.6% in 2017.[1] This fact reflects the trend of mounting fossil fuel consumption and coal production across the whole world.[2][3]
The CCPI report[4], released during COP24 by NGO Germanwatch, provides some of the useful information to inform certain countries whether they are on the right track to alleviate the speed of climate change. The categories evaluated across “GHG Emissions”, “Renewable Energy”, “Energy Use”, as well as countries’ national and international policy. Here is the result we've observed this year:
1. The ranking is still led by European front-runners, Sweden, with its relatively high performance on GHG emission and renewable energy, tops the chart.
2. After the connection of the world’s largest solar plant and multiple new wind farms to the grid, Morocco is the second best-performing country with its ambitious national climate target.
3. As two most populated countries, India and China made impressive progress on the charts, perch at rank 11 and 33.
With their low per capita emission, these two developing countries have made a great effort on developing renewable energy to deal with enormous domestic demand. China’s high climate policy score also reflects the government’s plausible commitment in regulating industrial emissions, building emissions and a successful renewable energy support scheme.[5]
With their low per capita emission, these two developing countries have made a great effort on developing renewable energy to deal with enormous domestic demand. China’s high climate policy score also reflects the government’s plausible commitment in regulating industrial emissions, building emissions and a successful renewable energy support scheme.[5]
China ranks 33: 8 ranks higher than last year
Where’s Taiwan? Well, team up with South Korea and the US at the bottom 5. The Taiwanese government is still struggling to find its way for the stable energy supply while nuclear and traditional-energy power plant were both treated as unwanted options in the country. In 2017, the thermal power plant generated more than 80% of electricity, of which gas and coals counted more than 75%. (which is 68.7% in Japan, 64% in South Korea). The extreme lack of renewable energy utilization and visionary plans are what hold Taiwan back on the climate issue. This October, after a nearly one-year protest, the municipal government finally rejected the construction plan of a new coal-fired power plant at the northeast coast of Taipei, which was predicted to cause hundreds of premature death in the following 10 years with the pollution it produces.
The ambiguous direction of green energy policy hinders Taiwan from progressing
March for clearer air for our next generation*3
As more and more people recognize the dangerous side-effects of traditional and nuclear energy, initiatives like “Powering Past Coal Alliance” and International “Solar Alliance” are the solid proof that embracing renewable energy and adapting rapid actions are the unavoidable missions for all nations. After so-called "Paris Rulebook" was finalized and agreed by attendee countries in COP24 this year, we should realize that no countries, no matter big or small, have the right to quit this herculean resistance against climate change.
Final alerts before that 2℃ bottom line*4
See full CCPI result at >> https://bit.ly/2GpqvNV
By Chris Chang x Green News Taiwan
[1] CCPI2019_results
[2] BP (2018)
[3] BP (2018)
[4]https://germanwatch.org/en/CCPI
[5]https://germanwatch.org/en/16101
[5]https://germanwatch.org/en/16101
*1 https://www.nepalisansar.com/world/cop-24-raise-melting-himalayas-issue-experts-urge-nepal-govt/
*2https://www.worldcoal.org/wca%E2%80%99s-engagement-cop24-katowice
*2https://www.worldcoal.org/wca%E2%80%99s-engagement-cop24-katowice
*3 http://m.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/2378860
*4 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
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