Posted on 10 November
2009 - London: The keenly awaited 2009 World
Energy Outlook contains some remarkable
analysis but does not light the way to a
safe carbon future, WWF said today.
Emissions cuts canvassed
in the outlook, the flagship annual publication
of the International Energy Agency (IEA),
are too small and too slow to keep the world
out of the danger zone of unacceptable risks
of catastrophic climate change, said Dr
Stephan Singer, WWFs Director of Global
Energy Policy.
Scientists, the UN and
many governments including the G8 group
have accordingly endorsed an objective of
keeping average global warming less than
two degrees Celsius over pre-industrial
times - an objective WWF maintains would
require developed nations cutting their
emissions 40 per cent below 11000 levels
by 2020.
But IEAs low emissions
scenario sees OECD fossil fuel CO2 emissions
down just 4.5 percent from 11000 levels
by 2020.
“The proposed CO2 emissions
reductions by the IEA for the energy sector
of the rich nations are dismal,” Dr Singer
said. “The reductions seen as low carbon
by the IEA are less even than the inadequate
reductions so far on the table from developed
nations for the UN climate change conference
in Copenhagen next month.”
Also according to the IEA, global energy
emissions would be one quarter more in 2030
than in the 11000 reference year.
"World-wide fossil
fuel emissions in twenty years must be on
a pathway to be reduced to more than 80%
below 11000 levels by mid-century to curtail
the climate crisis. The IEA's scenarios
violate this trajectory," Dr Singer
said.
For WWF, with about
two thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions,
the energy sector has to lead the way to
a low carbon future.
And although its alternative
lower emissions scenario is clearly inadequate,
WWF is pleased that the IEA identifies energy
conservation as the measure with the best
potential to bring it about.
“The IEA also finds
most of the emissions savings mechanisms
it identifies will be cost effective through
the saving of fuel costs and this is a useful
rebuff to those urging slow action or no
action on climate on the basis of costs,”
Dr Singer said.
“It is a pity that the
IEA couldn’t stay up to date with the science
on the level of emissions the atmosphere
can safely digest and use this to point
the way to a fully renewable power sector
by mid-century.”
“What they are suggesting
is not only dangerous, but it is much below
what is technically possible.”
+ More
Water evaporates from
the climate change negotiating text
Posted on 04 November
2009 - Barcelona, Spain – The Stockholm
International Water Institute joined governments,
NGOs and United Nations agencies this week
in calling on negotiators working to develop
a climate change deal in Copenhagen later
this year to recognize the critical role
of water in climate change adaptation.
Participants in a special
Water Day event on Tuesday called for recognition
that water is the primary way that climate
change will impact people, society and ecosystems,
due to predicted changes in its quality
and quantity.
The way that water is
managed in and between countries will be
a critical component for the success of
any efforts to adapt to the impacts of climate
change, according to the Stockholm International
Water Institute. It will also be a vital
consideration for many mitigation activities,
including hydropower, agriculture and forestry
projects.
However, negotiators
meeting this week in Barcelona for the last
round of UN climate talks before a big conference
in Copenhagen next month are working on
negotiating texts that have no reference
to water and its management as tools for
climate change adaptation.
“It is imperative that
negotiators recognize the crucial importance
of wetlands and freshwater as key factors
in any climate adaptation plan,” said Denis
Landenbergue, WWF International’s Manager
of Wetlands Conservation. “To ignore the
role of water is to cripple any climate
change adaptation plans.”
Landenbergue said he
encouraged negotiators to follow in the
steps of their colleagues from the Conference
of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention
on Wetlands. Last year, they adopted a resolution
promoting the conservation and proper management
of wetlands and their natural resources
– including water – as key requisites in
national climate change mitigation and adaptation
plans.
Previous negotiating
texts discussed in Bonn and Barcelona contained
clear references to proper land and water
resource adaptation as key to stemming the
effects of climate change. However, a streamlined
text being discussed this week lacks any
direct reference to water, even in sections
about climate change impacts.
"Let me be very
clear. There is no development without water,”
said Pasquale Steduto, Chair, UN-Water and
Service Chief, Food and Agriculture Organization.
“There is no food security without water.
There is most likely also no energy security
without water. Water is the primary medium
through which climate change influences
the Earth's ecosystems and therefore people's
livelihoods and well-being. If water is
not further recognized in adaptation strategies
and plans, we are making a big mistake."
"Even with the
best mitigation strategies, water related
effects of climate change will come,” said
Anders Berntell, Executive Director, SIWI.
“The challenge for many nations is how to
adapt. Climate Change is in effect Water
Change, since it will be through water that
the changes will be realized first and foremost."
Many developing countries
already are beginning to experience the
devastating impacts of climate change on
the water cycle.
If precautions are not
taken, this may lead to an increase in conflicts
related to water availability and distribution.
Extreme weather events leading to drought
and floods, as recently witnessed in Kenya
and the Philippines, are predicted to increase
in frequency and intensity as a result of
climate change, and are likely to become
the norm' in coming decades.
