A good climate for talking?
The talks in Copenhagen have not been straightforward, with uncertainty as to whether the big players would attend, developing countries leaving the table and then returning, and the big question as to whether this summit will be a missed opportunity.
The financial pledge made at the end of last week by EU leaders who have negotiated a three-year deal to pay 7.2bn Euros to help poorer nations cope with climate change was described as ‘inadequate’. The target cut in emissions has not found favour either.
The draft deal envisaged emission cuts by rich countries of 25-40% from 1990 levels by 2020 – this has been viewed by developing nations as not going far enough. Small island states and poorer nations of Africa and Latin America have called for the document to endorse the target of keeping the temperature rise since pre-industrial times below 1.5C. This is below the figure of 2C, which was endorsed by the G8 and major developing economies in July, and implies the need for drastic emission cuts. The cuts promised so far come to 18%.
Our small nation needs to do its bit. Wales has provided the example to other nations – principally to sign up to 10% reduction in carbon pollution in 2010 across the Assembly Government estate; 3% a year total cut in carbon emissions in Wales (80% by 2050); all party support for 40% cut in green house gas emissions by 2020.
One of the problems though is the 2010 biodiversity target that the Assembly Government will miss this target. The fact that we have already got a 2026 target set in the Environment Strategy is quite a commitment but without clear lines of responsibility and funding it is hard to see how a future target will be met, and as biodiversity is an indicator of how sustainably we are living, we are clearly failing on the statutory sustainability duty.
What happens in Copenhagen is incredibly important, but we must get our house in order too.
December 15th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Hmm. What we need to do is (a) prove the case for anthropogenic global warming (and the jury is still out on that one, especially in light of the UEA fiasco) and (b) if the case is made, hit the right targets for reduction. How can it be right that aviation is kicked to death and held up as the enemy of the people when it accounts for less than a tenth of the emissions of cattle farming? Don’t picket Heathrow, picket McDonalds….
December 16th, 2009 at 12:35 am
Although I remain hopeful that some good things will be agreed at Copenhagen, I believe that what really matters is that we in Wales do our full part irrespective of what others do … and in so doing not only inspire other developed nations to do the same as us, but sell them the technology that we’ve developed so that they can. From what you’ve written I think I agree with you fully.
Going back to 2007, one of the things that impressed me about the All Wales Accord (or Rainbow Agreement, if you prefer) was that the Tories and Plaid (and the LibDems, almost) committed themselves to this:
“We will set out plans to end our dependence on oil and gas within a generation. Our long-term aim is that all of Wales’ electricity needs are met from renewable sources.”
One of my biggest disappointments was that the One Wales Agreement did not make such a firm commitment to renewables.
-
Jonathan, may I ask you whether the Tories are still committed to all our electricity in Wales being produced from renewables?
Then, as a follow up, can I ask how the Tories would help facilitate that when you win power at Westminster next year? … as in fact it’s far more up to Westminster than Cardiff Bay, because the Senedd has no control over electricity generation of more than 50MW.
Not a trick. Just a genuine question about something that concerns me greatly. There are the proverbial million and one things on which I can and do disagree with the Tories. But, from my perspective of course, even the darkest cloud has a silver lining … and a more wholehearted and comprehensive approach to renewable energy in Wales might well prove to be part of that silver lining.
MH @ Syniadau