President Donald Trump recently announced that the US is withdrawing from the 2015 Paris climate agreement. He claims he is protecting the U.S. economy from a deal that would cost American jobs. Did trump actually dismiss the Paris accord? No, he said he is open to negotiate new terms or a new accord which is better for American workers, although he did not specify details.
The Paris agreement was envisioned to bind the nations together into battling rising global temperatures. Stopping climate change is only possible when the global community will work together. Mr. Trump said during his election campaign that he would take steps to help his country's oil and coal industries and this sudden move will boost the fossil fuel industries. Michael Brune, Chief Executive of the Sierra Club, said, "Trump has abandoned the standard of American leadership, turned his back on what the public and the market demand, and shamelessly disregarded the safety of our families just to let the fossil fuel industry eke out a few more dollars in profits." (The Telegraph, June 02, 2017)
Christophe Mc Glade & Paul Ekins published an article in Nature, which suggests that, globally, a third of oil reserves, half of gas reserves and over 80 per cent of current coal reserves should remain unused from 2010 to 2050 in order to keep global warming below 2°C. Development of resources in the Arctic and any increase in unconventional oil production are incommensurate with efforts to limit average global warming to 2°C. Results show that policy makers' instincts to exploit their territorial fossil fuels rapidly and completely, are in aggregate, inconsistent with their commitments to this temperature limit. (McGlade & Ekins, 2015) [Source: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ nature14016]
If this is true, can we meet our target of a 1.5°C world? The Paris agreement commits the US and 187 other countries to limit rising global temperatures well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. To reach this target, it definitely needs a significant paradigm shift from the fossil fuel to renewable energy. The few attempts seen at reducing carbon emissions have been driven more by policy and regulations than action. Instead of taking action, the fossil fuel industry has invested huge amount of money to appoint lobbyists. Thus, the Fossil fuel industry has already emerged as a big threat for 1.5°C target. In addition, departure of the world's second-largest polluter from Paris climate deal is a major shock for the global community.
Sakib Imtiaz
[email protected]
- Sunday, 24 November 2024 |
- Today's FE |
- e-Paper |
- Beta Website
