How do emission reduction pledges compare?

27 Nov 2009, 12:00 am   -   Source: SBS -Chiara Pazzano
0 Comments
Share This
+ Comment
0
The IPCC said that in order to stabilise concentrations at 450 ppm CO2e, emissions would have to be reduced 25-40% from 1990 levels by 2020. (AAP)

The IPCC said that in order to stabilise concentrations at 450 ppm CO2e, emissions would have to be reduced 25-40% from 1990 levels by 2020. (AAP)

Officials from 192 countries are holdiong talks in Copenhagen to try to forge a successor to the Kyoto Protocol. But what emission reduction targets have been set so far?

RELATED

Officials from 192 countries are holdiong talks in Copenhagen to try to forge a successor to the Kyoto Protocol. But what emission reduction targets have been set so far?

To compare different countries' carbon emission reduction targets, we need to take a look at absolute reductions by 2020.

However, the choice of a base year can have significant implications on the magnitude of the emission reduction pledge. Also, some countries have put forwad multiple pledges.

Proposed limits on emissions by 2020

Norway: 30% (below 1990 levels)

European Union: 20%-30%  (below 1990 levels)

Canada: 20% (below 2006 levels)  

Australia: 5%-25% (below 2000 levels)

US: 17% below 2005 levels

Japan : 15% (below 2005 levels) or 25% (below 1990 levels)

New Zealand: 10%-20% (below 1990 levels)

Russia: 20%-25% (below 1990 levels)

Ukraine: 20% (below 1990 levels)

Belarus: 5%-10% (below 1990 levels)

The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) said in its Fourth Assessment Report that in order to stabilise concentrations at 450 ppm CO2e, emissions would have to be reduced 25-40% from 1990 levels by 2020.

To understand whether the current pledges achieve this level of reductions, it is necessary to convert the above targets to percent emission reductions below 1990 levels.

China

China promised  to slow its carbon emissions, saying it would nearly halve the ratio of pollution to GDP over the next decade - a major move by the world's largest emitter, whose cooperation is crucial to any deal as a global climate summit approaches.

But environmental experts warned that China's plan does not commit it to reducing emissions - and that they will in fact continue to increase, though at a slower rate.

China pledged to cut "carbon intensity", a measure of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product, by 40 to 45 per cent by 2020, compared with levels in 2005.

If China did nothing and its economy doubles in size as expected in coming years, its emissions would likely double as well. The pledge means emissions would only increase by 50 per cent in such a scenario.

India

India, among the world's biggest polluters has been arguing that carbon caps will hinder their quest for economic development and poverty alleviation.

However it said it was ready to set non-binding targets for cutting carbon emissions in a bid to shed its image as an intransigent polluter.

"Legally binding emission reduction targets are only the obligation of the developed countries," Prime Minister's special envoy Shyam Saran said.

"With regard to developing countries, they are expected to take mitigation action but these mitigation actions must be supported by financial resources as well as technology and these can be of course subject to verification," Shyam Saran said.

US pledge 'crucial'

The Obama administration offered to curb US emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 -- less than calls by the European Union, Japan and UN scientists but the first numbers on the table by the world's largest economy.

Butt the White House said Obama would lay out a longer term plan for a 30 percent reduction of US emissions from 2005 levels by 2025, a 42 percent reduction by 2030 and an 83 percent cut by 2050.

The US Senate has delayed legislation on climate change until early 2010, confirming a bill would not be adopted in time for Copenhagen.

EU 'leading the way'

The EU has already vowed to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020, raising the target to 30 per cent in the event of an international agreement on the issue.

Australia: ETS vote looks dead in the water

Australia's proposed emissions trading scheme (ETS) aims to curb emissions by 5 percent by 2020, or by up to 25 percent if there is a deal at Copenhagen.

But the legislation is unlikely to pass the upper house before the December 4 deadline amid accusations of filibustering on the part of opposition and crossbench senators.

Opposition and Greens senators have been putting a multitude of questions to Climate Change Minister Penny Wong on details surrounding the legislation, some of which have already been addressed.

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon is seeking to amend the legislation to propose a 20 per cent target for emissions reductions.

Senator Milne moved an amendment which would see Australia provide financial assistance to developing nations so they can transform to lower carbon economies too.

That was defeated. The Greens also failed in their push for tougher emissions cuts.

Their two amendments aimed to lift national greenhouse gas emission reduction targets to at least 25 per cent unilaterally and 40 per cent in the event of a global agreement, both below 1990 levels by 2020.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube

Join the Discussion

Name
City / Suburb E.g. Artarmon, Sydney
Title
Comment
You have characters remaining.
Validation
What's this?
This is a captcha-picture. It is used to prevent mass-access by robots.
All submitted comments become the property of SBS. They are moderated, so we reserve the right to edit comments and remove HTML tags. Not all submitted comments will be published. Publication does not mean we endorse the opinions expressed. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.