introduction
There has been much hue and cry over the issue of climate change over last few decades. This change in climate can be defined as a long-term shift in weather conditions identified by changes in temperature, precipitation, winds and other indicators.
Balance between incoming and outgoing solar energy, which plays a role in determining the Earth’s energy balance, regulates the earth’s climate.
Aspects Responsible for Climate Change
Factors that are mainly responsible for the problem of climate change can be divided into three categories, viz., external natural factors, man-made factors and natural internal factors.
External natural factors are deviations in volcanic activity, solar output and the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. These factors mainly influence the volume of incoming energy and generally have a short-term effect. On the other hand, natural internal factors comprise changes in ocean currents or atmospheric circulations.
Man-made factors, normally caused by human activities, are of much concern. Since they affect both incoming and outgoing energy, far-reaching environmental, social and economic consequences could not be avoided.
Consequences
If the problem of climate change continues unabated at the present rate, it will have a catastrophic effect on people and the planet will no more be liveable. Climate change has already started showing its negative effects as in the signs in the form of changes in precipitations (Chennai floods in 2015); rise in sea levels; visible changes in seasonal periods with no fix period for winters, summers or rainy seasons; warmer sea surface temperatures mean stronger and frequent typhoons (in 2015, almost every other typhoon or hurricane was a category V storm); and finally, the rise of environmental refugees which will cause a huge political, economic, social and strategic cost for countries living on the fringe of coasts.
Attempts to Save Earth
The first attempt to highlight the issue at the international level was made in 1962 by the Club of Rome’s publication ‘Limits to Growth’ and later on Brundtland Commission in 1987 emphasised in sustainable development.
But the first serious efforts in controlling climate change were made in Montreal Protocol (1987) that emphasised on limiting ozone gas to decrease the size of ozone hole. This treaty has earned the title of being the most successful treaty in environmental space.
To control the Dracula of climate change more efficiently, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established in the 1990s. The UNFCCC led to constitution of Conference of Parties (COP) that saw the coming together of all the UN member nations. To date, 21 COP have been conducted, with the COP 21 being held in Paris, France.
Paris Climate Summit 2015
United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 21 or CMP 11 was held in Paris, France, from 30 November to 12 December 2015. Being the 21st yearly session of the COP to the 1992 UNFCCC and the 11th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the conference discussed the Paris Agreement, a global idea to reduce the speed of climate change. The agreement enables application of global greenhouse emission reduction measures in the post-2020 (post Kyoto Protocol) scenario.
This agreement if joined by at least 55 countries which together epitomise at least 55 per cent of global greenhouse emissions will become legally binding. The parties who agreed to the clauses need to sign the agreement in New York between 22 April 2016 and 21 April 2017, and also adopt it within their own legal systems.
Takeaways of the Summit
• One major goal achieved in this agreement is that average global warming was limited to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial temperatures, and a target for a limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) was set if possible.
• Each country has to submit their plans every five years. Moreover, there needed to be a more transparent and comprehensive reporting and monitoring system. Especially, emerging and developing countries that now dominate emissions like China will be part of that system.
• It will be the duty of developed countries to raise at least 100 billion dollars annually to help developing countries
Hurdles in the Accord
• COP 21 falls short of deciding exactly how much each country must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, it devises a bottom-up system in which each country will set a ‘nationally determined contribution’ and then explain how it plans to achieve it.
• Although the accord sought formation of an expert committee to ‘facilitate implementation’ and ‘promote compliance’, it will not have the power to punish violators.
• Although one of the main issue is that will the nations, which have suffered irreparable damage from climate change but have done almost nothing to cause it, be compensated, not much is achieved on this.
Although less has been achieved, the Paris summit is a move in the right direction. As is evident, it will be of interest for humanity to limit the pace of climate change to avert the possible disaster looming large at the Earth. It has been observed that despite being committed to the accord, the growth of the world economy has been more than the fall in emissions per unit of output. To save the mother earth while not sacrificing growth, it is necessary to increase this rate of decline.
The thing that takes centre stage is not the Paris agreement, but how the committed terms were executed by the member nations for meeting the desired targets. To be able to reach a united goal of reducing emissions, national plans must be ambitious and swift, and new and innovative technologies are needed that are more environment friendly. It is far too early to feel confident that the curve of emissions will now bend downwards.