Horowitz: Game-Changing Global Climate Change Agreement Reached
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
For the first time ever, nearly all the nations of the world have now agreed to put their country on a path to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change. The so-called ‘Lima Accord’’ reached this weekend in Lima, Peru, while falling short of specific goals and timetables, is a historic breakthrough, providing the real potential to limit the rise of global temperature and as a result the worst possible consequences of global warming.
The agreement is truly game-changing because it breaks climate policy gridlock in which still developing nations, such as China and India, now the world’s first and third largest carbon emitters traditionally resisted making any commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, saying that the problem was created by the developed world, primarily the United States and Western Europe, and they should bear the brunt of the solution.
This response made it more difficult to generate action on climate in the developed world, because critics pointed out accurately, that if the developing world did not join in reducing emissions, the problem could not be solved.
Reducing Emmissions
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTUnder the Accord, all the nations of the world will be required to submit their plans to reduce emissions by June, 2015. As some skeptical observers are already pointing out there is no actual concrete enforcement mechanism stopping nations from putting forward weak plans or no plans at all. The designers of this agreement are relying on the power of global peer pressure as reported by The New York Times yesterday. And so far the early results are promising, as both India and Russia, previously strong critics of global climate change efforts, both announced that their nations would be submitting plans by the deadline.
The recent joint US China Climate Change agreement paved the way for this critical breakthrough. Persuaded by President Obama’s series of tough executive actions on climate change as well as persistent American diplomacy led by Secretary or State John Kerry. China agreed to cap its emission of greenhouse gases by 2030 or sooner and then begin to reduce as well as produce at least 20% of its energy from renewable sources.
At the same time, the United States pledged to reduce its emissions by 26%-28% below its 2005 level in 2025, building on its previous commitment for a 17% reduction by 2020. Also spelled out in the joint agreement are a series of research initiatives, including devising more energy efficient buildings and pursuing carbon capture technology, where the two nations plan to work together.
What's Next?
The Lima Accord still needs to be ratified and confirmed when a formal climate change agreement is signed by the nations of the world in Paris next year. Further, given its absence of specific goals and timetables, major results will only be achieved if a number of nations lead by example, unveiling credible plans for significant reductions in greenhouse gases, challenging their global neighbors to do the same.
With those cautionary notes acknowledged, this new accord provides solid ground for real optimism on the climate front. President Obama’s leadership on this score is continuing to pay real dividends, generating the kind of global activity needed to solve a grave problem that knows no national boundaries.
Rob Horowitz is a strategic and communications consultant who provides general consulting, public relations, direct mail services and polling for national and state issue organizations, various non-profits and elected officials and candidates. He is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island.
