Setting stringent targets for emission cuts for the world, a UN body wants countries across the globe to collectively cut carbon emission to zero (achieve carbon neutrality) by 2070 and bring down emissions to net zero for all greenhouse gases, including methane, nitrous oxide and climate damaging refrigerant HFC, by 2100.
The timeline for desired emission cut was suggested by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in its annual emission gap report, released in Washington on Wednesday. The report wants the nations to follow the timeline diligently so that the world can contain temperature rise under the level considered disastrous.
Meanwhile on Thursday, many countries assembled in Berlin to pledge money for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) — a financial instrument aimed at helping poor countries adapt to climate change and be part of the global effort to achieve the target of emission cuts. However, the GCF could not attract as much money as was expected by developing countries.
The target set by the emission gap report assumes significance as it came just 11 days ahead of the crucial Lima climate talks where countries would negotiate how to reach a global climate deal in Paris next year.
The roadmap, chalked out by the UN body, and the poor show by rich nations in contributions to the GCF will likely be major debating points, specifically in the context of the turnaround year (2020) as suggested in the report and its focus on cutting other greenhouse gases like methane and HFC.
Rich nations invariably try to corner their developing counterparts, including India, over the issue of reduction in farm methane and refrigerant gas, blaming the latter as being the primary reason for such emissions.
On the other hand, the turnaround period of 2020 may be flagged by developing countries reminding the US and China about their recent deal in the context of the former’s low target and the latter’s late peaking year.
Under the deal, the US will reduce emissions by 26-28 per cent below the 2005 levels by 2025 while China intends to achieve peaking of carbon emissions around 2030.
The emission gap report also emphasized increasing forest cover and use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility for achieving carbon neutrality. The CCS is a technology that can capture carbon dioxide emitted during electricity generation and store it underground to prevent it from entering the atmosphere. The technology, however, hasn’t been perfected yet.
Carbon neutrality means any carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels would be offset by planting trees and other technological interventions.
