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Is China Exporting Its Pollution?
Is China Exporting Its Pollution?
China is in the midst of a historic transformation, and the surprising progress the country has made at energy efficiency has raised hopes that the world may get a grip on global greenhouse gas emissions much sooner than expected.
As a result of the progress China is making in cleaning up its industrial sector, global greenhouse gas emissions hit the pause button in 2014, the first time that has happened in four decades (absent a major economic contraction). The International Energy Agency said on March 13 that global greenhouse gas emissions hit 32.3 billion tons in 2014, the same level as the year before.
The shocking revelation that carbon emissions flat lined in 2014 was largely possible because of China’s ability to meet its growth target of 7.5 percent while keeping its greenhouse gas emissions flat.
Related: China Ramps Up Emissions Efforts With New Carbon Market
The Chinese government has targeted pollution reduction as a top priority. It has set a ceiling on its coal consumption at 4.2 billion tons per year by 2020. Only a few short years ago that seemed laughably implausible, but China surprised the world when it reported that it actually saw coal consumption dip in 2014.
Cutting coal consumption fits neatly into the Chinese government’s apparent goal of shifting its economy from export-driven heavy industry, to a consumer economy. In practice, that means forcing the closure of dirty factories.
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Lima climate summit extended as poor countries demand more from rich | Environment | The Guardian
Lima climate summit extended as poor countries demand more from rich | Environment | The Guardian.
Climate talks in Lima ran into extra time amid rising frustration from developing countries at the “ridiculously low” commitments from rich countries to help pay for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
The talks – originally scheduled to wrap up at 12pm after 10 days – are now expected to run well into Saturday , as negotiators huddle over a new draft text many glimpsed for the first time only morning.
The Lima negotiations began on a buoyant note after the US, China and the EU came forward with new commitments to cut carbon pollution. But they were soon brought back down to earth over the perennial divide between rich and poor countries in the negotiations: how should countries share the burden for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and who should pay?
The talks were designed to draft a blueprint for a global deal to fight climate change, due to be adopted in Paris late next year. But developing countries argued that before signing on they needed to see greater commitments that the industrialised countries would keep to their end of a bargain to provide the money needed to fight climate change. After 10 days of talks, developing countries argued that those assurances were not strong enough.
By midweek, a little over $10bn had been raised for a green climate fund, intended to help poor countries invest in clean energy technology. That was below the initial target of $15bn and many of those funds will be distributed over several years.
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Canada To Fall Way Short Of 2020 Climate Change Targets
Canada To Fall Way Short Of 2020 Climate Change Targets.
Canada remains well short of meeting its international 2020 climate change commitment, Environment Canada reported Monday, even if the economy tanks and global oil and gas prices remain on the skids.
Even under the worst-case scenario, the 2014 Emissions Report says Canada would still fail to cut greenhouse gases 17 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020 — as Canada committed to do under the Copenhagen accord.
The report, which includes measured emissions through 2012, suggests that under its benchmark projection, known as a reference scenario, Canada will get just over halfway to its international commitment.
“The government of Canada is focused on a pragmatic approach to addressing climate change that will reduce emissions while continuing to create jobs and encourage the growth of the economy,” states the report.
Sharply rising GHG emissions in the oil and gas sector will almost completely offset falling greenhouse gases from Canada’s electricity generating sector — leaving Canada 1.2 per cent below 2005 levels if all existing and announced measures remain in place through 2020.
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Survey shows Canadians want action on climate change | News
Survey shows Canadians want action on climate change | News.
Most see B.C.-style carbon tax as part of the solution
VANCOUVER — As Canada’s environment minister heads to the United Nations climate change summit this week, a survey on Canadians’ views about climate change reveals an overwhelming majority (88 per cent) want Canada to commit to significant new actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In the survey released today by the Environics Institute for Survey Research in partnership with the David Suzuki Foundation, Canadians express most concern (78 per cent) about what climate change will mean for their children and future generations. Scarcity of water and more frequent droughts; increased extreme weather events like storms and flooding; and disappearance of wildlife are also of concern to a majority of Canadians.
“While climate change has not been a top-of-mind political issue that has attracted much attention in the media or during elections, this survey reminds us that a growing majority of Canadians have concluded that climate change is a serious problem that requires serious government attention,” said Keith Neuman, executive director of the Environics Institute.
The survey also shows majority public support for a tax on carbon-based fuels across the country. Close to six in 10 (58 per cent) British Columbians support their existing carbon tax, and 56 per cent of Canadians elsewhere say they would support a B.C.-style carbon tax in their own provinces.
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Are The US And China’s Climate Goals Realistic?
Are The US And China’s Climate Goals Realistic?.
At first glance, the agreement between China and the United States to impose new limits on their greenhouse gas emissions looks like an effort for significant cooperation between two huge global rivals. But not everyone’s convinced that their plan will address the problem adequately.
The leaders of both countries are under conflicting pressures at home on the matter. In China, President Xi Jinping is aware of the crucial role that coal has played in driving the country’s economy, yet he’s faced with the public furor over the amounts of toxic smog in key industrial centers.
In the United States, President Obama’s environmentally progressive political base is demanding action to limit carbon dioxide emissions, but the Republican Party has just won elections that will give them control of both houses of Congress, and its leaders see any shift to renewable fuels as a threat to the country’s economy.
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