Energy Saving News
Proposals For Climate Summit Promote Energy Saving
Denmark - host country for the Copenhagen climate summit from December 7th to 18th - has recently released a draft proposal ahead of the conference, stating that the world should aim for a 50% carbon emissions reduction by 2050 from 1990 levels.
This achievement is accessible through the implementation of energy efficient systems in businesses worldwide, which will reduce energy consumption, save money and cut carbon emissions simultaneously.
The draft further expresses Denmark's belief that 80% of the global emissions cut by 2050 should emanate from rich countries.
It also requests that 2020 should be accepted by the world as the year when global emissions will peak.
Poorer countries had specifically demanded that a mid-term emission target be set for developed countries, but this element was not included in the draft.
The Danish proposals might therefore not be received too well by developing countries, which are seeking tens of billions of dollars of aid annually to help them fight climate change.
The draft also suggests that global efforts should be made in order to keep the average temperature rise within the forecasted 2C.
China and India, as well as other developing countries, are also expected to draw up their own drafts on which to base negotiations during the conference.
The current UN climate agreements do not make cutting emissions a mandatory requirement for developing countries, but many of them, such as China and India, are offering to deviate from "business as usual" provided rich countries give them money and technology.
These inputs from richer nations would allow developing countries to invest in energy efficient installations in order to make energy savings, in turn freeing up resources to create business opportunities and jobs.
"Parties should work together constructively to strengthen the world's ability to combat climate change," says the draft.
Although it is too late to hope for a legally binding agreement between nations, which would settle international debates (about who should cut emissions, by how much and who should pay), a political pact is nevertheless still possible.
Monday 30th November 2009
