BUENOS AIRES: Climate change: Carbon emissions from rich countries rose rapidly in 2021

BUENOS AIRES: Climate change: Carbon emissions from rich countries rose rapidly in 2021

BUENOS
AIRES
: Carbon emissions are rebounding
strongly and are rising across the world’s 20 richest nations, according to a
new study.

The Climate Transparency Report says that CO2 will go up by 4%
across the G20 group this year, having dropped 6% in 2020 due to the pandemic.

China,
India and Argentina are set to exceed their 2019 emissions levels.

The
authors say that the continued use of fossil fuels is undermining efforts to
rein in temperatures.

With just
two weeks left until the critical COP26 climate conference opens in Glasgow, the task
facing negotiators is stark.

One of
the key goals of the gathering is to take steps to keep the important 1.5C
temperature threshold alive and within reach.

With the
world currently around 1.1C warmer than pre-industrial times, limiting future
incremental increases is extremely challenging.

If
Glasgow is going to succeed on this question, then the countries that create
the most carbon will have to put ambitious policies into place.

The
evidence from this new report is that it isn’t happening fast enough.

The G20
group is responsible for around 75% of global emissions, which fell
significantly last year as economies were closed down in response to Covid-19.

But this
year’s rebound is being powered by fossil fuel, especially coal.

According
to the report, compiled by 16 research organisations and environmental campaign
groups, coal use across the G20 is projected to rise by 5% this year.

This is
mainly due to China who are responsible for around 60% of the rise, but
increases in coal are also taking place in the US and India.

Coal use
in China has surged with the country experiencing increased demand for energy
as the global economy has recovered.

Coal
prices are up nearly 200% from a year ago.

This in
turn has seen power cuts as it became uneconomical for coal-fired
electricity plants generate electricity in recent months.

With the
Chinese government announcing a change in policy this week to allow these power
plants to charge market rates for their energy, the expectation is that this
will spur even more coal use this year.

When it
comes to gas, the Climate Transparency Report finds that use is up by 12%
across the G20 in the 2015-2020 period.

The COP26
global climate summit in Glasgow in November is seen as crucial if climate
change is to be brought under control. Almost 200 countries are being asked for
their plans to cut emissions, and it could lead to major changes to our
everyday lives.

While
political leaders have promised that the global recovery from Covid should have
a green focus, the financial commitments made by rich nations don’t bear this
out.

Of the
$1.8tn that has been earmarked for recovery spending, just $300bn will go on green
projects.

To put
that figure into context, it almost matches the $298bn spent by G20 countries
in subsidising fossil fuel industries in the eighteen months up to August 2021.

Wheels are turning

The
report also points to some positive developments including the growth of solar
and wind energy in richer countries, with record amounts of new capacity
installed across the G20 last year.

Renewables
now supply around 12% of power compared to 10% in 2020.

Politically,
there has been significant progress as well with the G20 group as the majority
recognise that net zero targets are needed for around the middle of this
century.

All
members of the group have agreed to put new 2030 carbon plans on the table
before the Glasgow conference.

Media caption, BBC Reality Check
explains how to cut your carbon footprint

However,
China, India, Australia and Saudi Arabia have not yet done so.

“G20
governments need to come to the table with more ambitious national emission
reductions targets. The numbers in this report confirm we can’t move the dial
without them – they know it, we know it – the ball is firmly in their court
ahead of COP26,” said Kim Coetzee from Climate Analytics, who coordinated
the overall analysis.

There are
expectations that both India and China will submit new national plans before
the meeting in Glasgow, which could give a significant boost to attempts to
keep the 1.5C target in view.

The G20
group will meet in Rome in the days leading up to COP26 and the UK minister who
will lead the talks has in recent days urged the leaders of these countries to
now step up.

“It
is leaders who made a promise to the world in Paris six years ago, and it is
leaders that must honour it,” said Alok Sharma.

“Responsibility
rests with each and every country, and we must all play our part. Because on
climate, the world will succeed, or fail, as one.”

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