Paris deal sets chance for real change

Activists gather near the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, Saturday,

Dec.12, 2015 during the COP21, the United Nations

 Climate Change Conference. (AP photo)

LE BOURGET - The final draft of an unprecedented climate

deal was presented to negotiators from nearly 200 nations

 on Saturday in a bid to slow rising temperatures and

sea levels.

The Paris agreement commits countries to keeping the rise

 in global temperatures by the year 2100 compared with

pre-industrial times “well below” 2C and “endeavour to limit”

them even more, to 1.5C. That was a key demand of poor

countries ravaged by the effects of climate change and

rising sea levels.

They would also be committed to limiting the amount of

greenhouse gases emitted by human activity to the same levels

 that trees, soil and oceans can absorb naturally, beginning

 at some point between 2050 and 2100. Negotiators had a

 few hours to analyse the draft before going into a plenary

 meeting late last night for possible adoption.

French President Francois Hollande said “the decisive

 agreement for the planet is here and now” in calling on

delegates to adopt “the first universal agreement on climate”.

The deal, meant to take effect in 2020, would be the first to

 ask all countries to join the fight against global warming,

 representing a sea change in the UN talks, which previously

 required only wealthy nations to reduce their emissions.

 “This is a good text,” said Brazilian Environment Minister

 Izabella Teixeira. “Brazil can accept this.”

 Some delegates, however, noted that the long-term temperature

 goals would not be achieved by the emissions targets more

 than 180 countries have set for themselves so far.

Thailand set a goal of reducing emissions by 20% from current

levels, and up to 25% with international assistance.

The new version removes disputed concepts like “climate

neutrality” or “emissions neutrality” which had appeared in

earlier drafts but met opposition from countries including China.

It sets a goal of getting global greenhouse gas emissions to

start falling “as soon as possible”; they have been generally

 rising since the industrial revolution.

 It says wealthy nations should continue to provide financial

support for poor nations to cope with climate change and

“encouraged” other countries to pitch in on a voluntary basis.

That reflects Western attempts to expand the donor base to

 include advanced developing countries such as China.

In what would be a victory for small island nations, the draft

 includes a section highlighting the losses they expect to incur

 from climate-related disasters that it’s too late to adapt to.

However, a footnote specifies that it “does not involve or provide

 any basis for any liability or compensation” — a key US

 demand because it would let the Obama administration sign

 on to the deal without going through the Republican-led Senate.

Thai activists said the energy sector and businesses would have

 to make dramatic changes to meet the country’s targets.

Good Governance for Social Development director Bantoon

 Sethasiroj said the agreement sent a strong message and called

 for Thailand to make a greater investment in clean

energy technology.

Mr Bantoon warned businesses would also be under pressure to

 limit their carbon footprints, with potential trade sanctions

awaiting exporters who breach accepted limits.

International activists who say the agreement won’t go far enough

 held protests across Paris yesterday, calling attention to

 populations threatened by melting glaciers, rising seas and

expanding deserts. “This puts the fossil fuel industry on the wrong

 side of history,” said Kumi Naidoo of Greenpeace.

“This deal alone won’t dig us out of the hole we’re in.

” The world has already warmed by about 1C since pre-industrial

times, and poor low-lying nations have pushed to set a goal of

 limiting the rise to another half-degree on top of that.

 Ben Strauss, a sea level researcher at Climate Central, said

limiting warming to 1.5C instead of 2C could potentially cut in

 half the projected 280 million people whose houses will

eventually be submerged by rising seas.

The UN has been working for more than two decades to

persuade governments to work together to reduce the man-made

 emissions that scientists say are warming the planet. AP with

post reporters .

 

News,World,Bangkok Post, 13 December 2015.

 

As the Paris agreement commits countries to keeping the rise

 in global temperatures by the year 2100 compared with

 pre-industrial times “well below” 2C.

And limiting the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by

human activity to the same levels that trees, soil and oceans

can absorb naturally.

So it should be the duty of the government to set the plan

which math the goal set and it is duty of everyone to cooperate

and support the plan to meet the goal.

 

Sincerely Yours.