Advocating climate change on a green blog journey
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redit: Courtesy of Kathmandu post On the recent Fox News Sunday interview, President-elect Donald trump promised he would quickly take a stand on the Dakota pipeline access and the keystone pipelines as soon as he takes office in January and he also stated that he is “ studying the Paris climate deal and wants to know if the United States has any competitive disadvantage over other countries”. So what is the Paris climate deal and why is it so important in the coming year of 2017. According to the UNFCC – United Nations Framework convention on climate change, the Paris climate agreement for the first time brings all the nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and to reduce their individual carbon footprint. The main goal of the agreement was to mitigate greenhouse gases, adapt to new technology and finance technology that supports the effort. The Paris agreement requires all agreed countries to work towards nationally determined contributions also called NDC’s. The agreement went into effect on the 4th of November, 2016 and the countries will report the NDC’s to all the parties in the year 2018. According to the UNFCC, the aim of the convention is described in Article 2, "enhancing the implementation" of the UNFCCC through: "(a) Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change. (b) Increasing the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development, in a manner that does not threaten food production. (c) Making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development." This agreement works on a ‘name and shame’ system where no parties are held responsible by a committee. As the agreement provides no consequences if countries do not meet their commitments, consensus of this kind is fragile. A trickle of nations exiting the agreement may trigger the withdrawal of more governments, bringing about a total collapse of the agreement. So far, 193 out of 195 countries have signed the agreement. Credit: Guardian Graphic
Source: World resources institute Above is a graphic showing the percentage of greenhouse gas emissions by the country. It’s no new news that United States comes second with 17.89% of greenhouse gas emissions after china. China also the world’s largest coal producer has reached its peak in coal usage in the year 2013. Now after the US election result, the Paris agreement is in uncertainty. President-elect Trump promises to expand gas and oil drilling and to scrap Obama’s signature clean power plan which was set to fight the US emissions. So would President-elect Trump withdraw from the deal? What we do have to understand from the fine print of the pact is that NO single country can cancel the deal without the other countries agreement to abandon it. Also adding to it is a clause which states that the action of withdrawal cannot happen within the first 3 year period and thereafter a yearlong notice of withdrawal period. Ironical how it equals the presidential term period of time. So let’s say, there is no taking a back step for all the countries that signed the deal, there is only going forward and it’s time for the United States to keep up with the other innovative and economically competitive countries who have already moved onto low carbon system and sustainable living solutions. If you believe and share the same sentiments as me, bookmark this blog and stay tuned in to know whats happening in the climate change movement.
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AuthorHarini Meda is a Interior designer based in San Francisco, California. Interested in Environmental Change advocacy and believes in leading a happy and a sustainable life . Archives
December 2016
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