Last week, the countries of the Asia Pacific region (APEC) committed themselves to curb their greenhouse gases emissions by working on energy efficiency, renewables and the management of forests.
A good news as this group of countries holds 41 percent of the population and comprises the United States and China, the world top greenhouse gases emitters.
However, the goal that was set is too little and do not includes restraints, but it is still a step in the right direction. I will detail here this news that is truly encouraging.
The goal that was set is to cut by 25 percent the greenhouses gases by 2030. However, the base year is not 1990 as in all the UN negotiations but 2005.
So, if GHG emissions rose by 25 percent between 1990 and 2005, the goal that was set won’t simply decrease the overall GHG emissions as the UN sees it. (see the original APEC statement)
The WWF reminds us :
According to WWF, negotiations for a binding post-2012 agreement must be launched in Bali to conclude by 2009.
To keep warming well below the dangerous level of 2°C, that agreement will need to ensure that global emissions peak before 2020, and that industrialized countries reduce their emissions by at least 30% by 2020 from 1990 levels.
One can be happy as the decision that was taken wouldn’t haven been taken a year ago. The seriousness of the situation at hand is beginning to be in everybody’s mind.
So, I’m optimistic that future agreements will push even more the cuts of GHG (greenhouse gases) emissions even more and that we will reach the goal.
The future of Kyoto, which will be discussed on December and in the next two years will comprise more important reductions of GHG emissions.
Coal is a vital fuel to the economies of this region and accounts for a large part of electricity generation but it is also the “dirtiest” solution of all, and replacing it by cleaner ones (namely renewables and nuclear) would prove to be a very good thing to do.
Coal accounts for 80 % of electricity in China, a half in the United States… This solution is also behind 40 percent of the global electricity production and accounts for 22 percent of the global energy consumption.
Carbon Capture and Storage is also mentioned alongside with renewables to decrease energy emissions. This technology, still in development, will enable to liquefy the CO2 and put it into the ground were it won’t go out.
I will soon write an article on the clean alternatives to coal and be sure that I will mention this very interesting one.
Further reading :
