Since the industrial revolution, technology has boosted the development of our societies in ways we never seen before. We tackled some of the biggest challenges of our era: the production of food, the eradication of diseases, and the expansion of transport and communication systems. But this form of development has come at a cost and has become, perhaps, the greatest threat of our time.
The combustion of fossil like petrol, coal or gas, that fueled the production, has released millions of tons of carbon gases to the atmosphere. These greenhouse gas emissions are in part reabsorbed by the oceans and forests. But their drastic increase over the past 50 years, combined with the deforestation from unsustainable agriculture, has caused a global warming effect.
Experts have raised the alarm. If the global warming trend continues, our planet could be 3–5C warmer than pre-industrial levels by 2100. In these conditions, sustaining life on Earth would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. To avoid this threatening scenario, 195 countries in 2015 signed the Paris Agreement. The agreement gives clear action steps to reduce carbon emissions, mitigate the risks of climate change and maintain global temperature well below 2C. Scientists consider safe limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
Four years after the agreement, very few countries are still in the race to limit global warming to a safe temperature. But many are taking the lead in setting bold goals to curb climate change.
Bhutan
Bhutan’s policies are classified as “compatible” with a world below 2°C, and it has already achieved carbon neutrality. Being a small and less developed country, Bhutan was able to achieve zero CO2 emissions thanks to the country’s reforestation programme.
The forests absorb in its entirety the relatively low amounts of gases emitted by the vehicles and industries. In the face of the challenges posed by the country’s economic growth, the government commits to maintaining this neutrality.
Chile
The next host to the UN Conference of the Parties (COP) accounts for less than one percent of global carbon emissions, yet it is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change due to its geography and climate. The country has been willing to take climate action with the hope that they would set an example that more developed countries can follow.
Santiago de Chile has now a total of 200 electric buses and, the second-largest fleet in the developing world after China. The government said that it intends to have 80 percent of electric public transport by 2022. In June 2019, Chile revealed the development of a climate action plan that aims to shut all 28 coal power plants by 2040 and target carbon neutrality by 2050.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica has been an exemplary country when it comes to environmental protection. It has included the right to a healthy environment for its citizens in its constitution. One-fourth of its territory is protected and it’s the only tropical country to have reduced deforestation.
This year, the Costa Rican government launched a renewed plan to eliminate fossil fuels by 2050. Some initiatives are: having 25 percent of electric private cars and 70 percent of electric public transport by 2035 and achieving 100 percent zero-emission vehicles by 2050.
Norway
For many years now, Norway has been setting the pace towards carbon neutrality. Their aim is to reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Unlike Chile, Norway does not need to close any power stations because most of its electricity is renewable. In 2017 almost 96 percent of electricity was generated by hydropower plants and around two percent from wind farms. The country has transitioned to clean energy thanks to the carbon tax, which allowed them to fund alternative sources.
To neutralize the CO2 emissions generated by transport, the Nordic country is relying on trees. It is increasing its forest size and contributing to programmes to reduce deforestation in other regions.
Japan
Rather than focusing on closing the fuel-fired power plants, Japan’s strategy focuses on the use of technology to absorb CO2. The plan commits to commercializing carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technology by 2023, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) used in coal-fired power generation by 2030. It also aims at reducing the production costs of hydrogen to less than one-tenth by 2050, to encourage the use of clean energy.
Many countries still have a lot to do. Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Ukraine, and USA need to strengthen their efforts to keep the world even under 4°C.
UNDP is providing long term support to countries to pursue a zero-carbon sustainable development, with a portfolio spanning 280 projects and programmes over 110 countries.
Original source: UNDP
Published on 06 August 2019
