| I. | Governments Climate change will affect all. However, actions taken to combat climate change may vary depending on geographical, cultural, political, and economic factors. Thus governments, while addressing climate change, have to engage on a municipal, sub-national, national and international level. Countries, according to their capacity and willingness, have adopted various policies and pledges to combat climate change. Most governments the world over are supporting renewable energy despite continued sovereign concerns and austerity measures in the EU and USA. The number of countries with renewable targets or support policies has more than doubled from 2005 (when it was 55) and now stands at 119. Renewable portfolio standards have been upped in most of the established renewable markets. In countries like US, China and India, states are actively pushing for a 15-20 per cent share of modern renewables in their energy mix. In 1992 countries joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), an international treaty to facilitate cooperation to combat climate change. The Convention’s stated aim is the “stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous…interference with the climate system…within a time frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner”. Under the Convention, industrialized countries agreed to stabilize their greenhouse gas emissions by 2000; however, a lack of genuine progress led to further negotiations that culminated in the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. The Kyoto Protocol legally binds developed countries to quantified emission reduction targets, with the first period for these commitments starting in 2008 and ending in 2012. The future of the Protocol beyond 2012 was one of the key issues at the COP17 negotiations at Durban last year, alongside discussions on a more comprehensive agreement that would cover all countries, particularly those with large and/or fast-growing emissions. Durban sadly did not achieve a global legal binding commitment, although countries have committed – through the Durban Platform – to securing a “global deal” by 2015, with the Kyoto Protocol parties due to take on new targets and timetables. Given the urgency of mitigating climate change, this effort risks being too little too late unless there is real robust action in the meantime. Indeed, many countries, states and companies are already beginning to act. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Kyoto Protocol and a range of other informal partnerships and dialogues provide a framework that supports cooperation, and a foundation from which to build further collective action. Country Targets
Source: Data collected from REN21, Renewables 2011 Global Status Report and country sources However, there is still much to be achieved. Many individual country targets – as shown in the facing list – are contingent on other countries joining the race. This is not an unreasonable demand. To avoid the worst impacts of climate change we require strong and urgent collective action. “The changes needed in our energy infrastructure to meet future demand and respond to climate change will not happen by chance.” John Hofmeister, founder and CEO of Citizens for AFFordable Energy |
| II. | Private sector As the two critical limbs of the economy the public and the private sectors need to work together against climate change. Governments should set up incentives and the private sector exploit them – creating a win-win situation. For example, the Philippines Government provided a risk guarantee to a privately owned 25 MW wind power project. In Argentina, the Government competitively awarded concessions to private companies to provide energy services through solar home systems in isolated areas under the PERMER project. In the most effective economies governments and the private sector collaborate to achieve common goals. So, while governments develop the infrastructure and provides a transparent public policy regime, the private sector needs to innovate to make business models more inclusive. I think my company, Suzlon Group is a small example of responsible capitalism; an ideal which is built on inclusivity. In India, our major cities are crowded and the infrastructure is pushed to the limit. But thousands flock to the cities everyday in search of work. This, in turn, increases the pressure on our cities, threatens our rural way of life and breaks up family units. But wind farms typically pop up in the remotest parts of the country. So at Suzlon we started training people in rural communities in wind energy. This means that today they have secure jobs and don't add to the migration. This also benefits our customers, as they get great, very localized service. |
| III. | Civil Society Civil Society organizations have been actively campaigning to combat climate change. There are several who have dedicated themselves to building a sustainable, low-carbon future. Working with them, I gain faith in being able to leave behind a greener world for future generations. The Climate Group has been working hard to achieve a “Clean Revolution”. A revolution which includes cutting emissions by two thirds by 2050 in a way that protects our livelihoods, creates jobs and supports economic growth around the globe. Since 2004, the Group has been working with governments, business leaders and the world's most influential individuals to push for the policies, technologies and investment needed to make the Clean Revolution commercially viable. Another commendable organization is the World Economic Forum. They engage business, governments and experts in partnerships to create the low-carbon economy. “As more and more people understand what's at stake, they become a part of the solution, and share both in the challenges and opportunities presented by the climate crises.” Al Gore, former US Vice President and author of An Inconvenient Truth |
