President
Obama and the other leaders of the G8 have committed to cutting short-lived climate pollutants. According to a 21 May
2012, press release, the G8 has joined the new Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
with UNEP and World Bank. This announcement comes on the heels of a G8 Summit at
Camp David, Maryland. Reducing short-lived climate pollutants mitigates near-term climate change,
save lives, and improves crop yields.
Obama and the other leaders of the G8 have committed to cutting short-lived climate pollutants. According to a 21 May
2012, press release, the G8 has joined the new Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
with UNEP and World Bank. This announcement comes on the heels of a G8 Summit at
Camp David, Maryland. Reducing short-lived climate pollutants mitigates near-term climate change,
save lives, and improves crop yields.
The G8 leaders committed to taking comprehensive action
to reduce short-lived climate pollutants as a compliment to reducing
CO2, describing the new effort as a means to promote “increased
mitigation ambition” to protect the climate.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to limit the increase in global
temperatures to less than 2°C over pre-industrial levels, to phase-out
inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies over the medium term, and to increase food
security. They also expressed strong
support to implement the Cancun agreements and the Durban Platform, which calls
for the adoption of a new climate protocol by 2015, to come into force by
2020.
to reduce short-lived climate pollutants as a compliment to reducing
CO2, describing the new effort as a means to promote “increased
mitigation ambition” to protect the climate.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to limit the increase in global
temperatures to less than 2°C over pre-industrial levels, to phase-out
inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies over the medium term, and to increase food
security. They also expressed strong
support to implement the Cancun agreements and the Durban Platform, which calls
for the adoption of a new climate protocol by 2015, to come into force by
2020.
“The President’s
announcement puts the short-lived climate pollutant strategy where it
belongs—firmly in the hands of the leaders of the world’s largest economies,”
said Durwood Zaelke, President of the Institute for Governance & Sustainable
Development. “The Climate and Clean Air Coalition focuses on fast-action climate
mitigation that can be done today with existing technologies by willing
partners, and takes a solution-oriented approach that is showing the world that
it’s possible to start meeting the climate challenge.”
announcement puts the short-lived climate pollutant strategy where it
belongs—firmly in the hands of the leaders of the world’s largest economies,”
said Durwood Zaelke, President of the Institute for Governance & Sustainable
Development. “The Climate and Clean Air Coalition focuses on fast-action climate
mitigation that can be done today with existing technologies by willing
partners, and takes a solution-oriented approach that is showing the world that
it’s possible to start meeting the climate challenge.”
Zaelke added, “The strategy
to reduce short-lived climate pollutants not only reduces a major part of
climate pollution, save millions of lives a year, and increase food security,
but it also builds the momentum and confidence we need to successfully manage
carbon dioxide from energy production, which is essential for keeping the
Planet’s long term temperature increase to an acceptable level.”
to reduce short-lived climate pollutants not only reduces a major part of
climate pollution, save millions of lives a year, and increase food security,
but it also builds the momentum and confidence we need to successfully manage
carbon dioxide from energy production, which is essential for keeping the
Planet’s long term temperature increase to an acceptable level.”
Short-lived climate
pollutants include black carbon soot, methane, and hydrofluorocarbons, which are
factory-made gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning and the fastest
growing climate pollutant in the U.S.
pollutants include black carbon soot, methane, and hydrofluorocarbons, which are
factory-made gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning and the fastest
growing climate pollutant in the U.S.
Reducing the short-lived
climate pollutants can cut the rate of climate change in half and in the Arctic
by two-thirds for the next 30 to 40 years, according to a recent assessment
by UNEP and the World Meteorological Organization carried out by more than 50 of
the world’s leading climate scientists.
climate pollutants can cut the rate of climate change in half and in the Arctic
by two-thirds for the next 30 to 40 years, according to a recent assessment
by UNEP and the World Meteorological Organization carried out by more than 50 of
the world’s leading climate scientists.
The G8 also commissioned the
World Bank to prepare a report on ways to integrate reductions of short-lived
climate pollutants into their activities and to assess funding options for
methane reductions.
World Bank to prepare a report on ways to integrate reductions of short-lived
climate pollutants into their activities and to assess funding options for
methane reductions.
The Coalition was first
announced in February by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and until today was
made up of 13 members from both developing and developed countries including:
the US, Canada, Mexico, Ghana, Japan, Bangladesh, Sweden, Norway, Nigeria,
Colombia, the World Bank, European Commission, and UNEP.
announced in February by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and until today was
made up of 13 members from both developing and developed countries including:
the US, Canada, Mexico, Ghana, Japan, Bangladesh, Sweden, Norway, Nigeria,
Colombia, the World Bank, European Commission, and UNEP.
The addition of the other G8
members including Russia, Italy, France, the UK, and Germany, brings the
Coalition up to 18 members.
members including Russia, Italy, France, the UK, and Germany, brings the
Coalition up to 18 members.
The President’s press video
is here (5:10 min). The G8 Leader’s Camp David Declaration is here. The accompanying Fact Sheet: G8 Action on Climate and Energy
is here.
is here (5:10 min). The G8 Leader’s Camp David Declaration is here. The accompanying Fact Sheet: G8 Action on Climate and Energy
is here.
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