21st CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES 2015 PARIS WORLD ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE – PENINSULA SPEAKS
Cr Fraser – The United Nations 21st World Environment Conference of the Parties at Paris in December was all about dialogue, understanding, ideas exchange and the stunning realization that 195 nation states generating 98% of the world’s greenhouse emissions could actually agree to accept responsibility for climate change, its mitigation and adaptation – and did so.
Invariably there was tension amongst these nation states in reaching this “top down” agreement. Despite a US contribution of $860m to poorer nations to adapt to climate change, the US taxpayer continues subsidises the producer of 40% of all coal burnt in the US to the extent of $3bn. Likewise falling oil prices render renewable energy less economic.
In India where 300 million people live without electricity, scarce carbon based electricity can be spread more equitably and widely by energy efficient LED lighting. India’s order for tens of millions of LED fittings will create economies of scale in world LED production reducing the cost of LED fittings.
During COP21 China suffered profoundly under Red Smog alerts; yet unembarrassed, it goes about constructing 92 coal fired power stations in developing nations.
But these conundrums did not hold sway in their councils. As US Secretary of State Kerry opined – “The old partnership between energy costs, productive and prosperity is cast aside in favour of a single matrix of carbon intensity; it is the most extraordinary market opportunity”, an opportunity readily grasped by German energy innovators.
So we have this “top down” Paris Agreement – 2 degrees (going for 1.5) limit on global warming above pre industrial levels; each nation state with a plan to address climate change, five year plan reviews; $1bn to poorer countries to adapt, mitigate and switch from carbon The complete 32 page text can be found at unfccc.int/resource/docs/2015/cop21/eng/l09.
Driving these nations to this agreement were the sub-national local governments of cities and regions – all at the coal face so to speak – the carbon face of climate change – mitigation and adaptation: “Governments waffle: cities and regions lead “ remarked the Mayor of Oakland on San Francisco Bay. That is why the Mornington Peninsula was at Paris, with its commitment to carbon neutrality, recently adopted neutral policy – to lead and to learn and to engage with other cities and regions and through its membership of ICLIE –Local Governments for Sustainability.
These are all encouraging signs that cities and regions, business and investors, are already running ahead of government to bring emissions down faster than officially planned.