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The Copenhagen summit held December last year got some greenhouse reports submitted on 31st of January 2010. The aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emission as an attempt to tackle global warming and pollution.

Nations across the world are collaboratively agreeing to find solutions. The United State of America, China, Japan, 27 nations of the EU, India and Brazil are focusing to solve most of the CO2 dilemma by year 2020. Actions taken are severe and grand in nature.

The 55 developed and developing countries submitting their plan to United Nation Framework convention on Climate Change to curb emission by 2020 were all welcomed on time. However, Russia and Mexico did on their side not submit their report by the end of January.

However, the countries that have already produced their report are officially according to United Nation planning to curb 78 percent of the carbon emission worldwide.

The United Nation accord was concluded at the end of the summit 19th December. Yvo de Boer, the executive secretary of the UN’s climate change office gives an idea of the commitment to tackle climate change. There is an urgency, but countries can still do more, according to the executive secretary.

Enormous measures proclaimed by the countries are according to various analysts insufficient to meet the Central Goal of the Copenhagen agreement. The aim is to avoid global warming which might result in a temperature rise of 3.6 degrees, above what it was in the pre-industrial period.

Alden Meyer, director of Strategy & Policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists says that it is hard to reach the goal before 2020, and technically afterwards as well. More solution need to surface. This includes answers to how developing countries will be provided with financial assistance. Wealth nations are promising $30 billion in short-term support. However, no precise mechanism of distribution has been planned and long-term support remains mere a concept up to today.

The substantiality of the commitment of countries supporting with their report is a gigantic effort indeed. It is the first time ever that collaborative actions are taken by developing countries that are contributing to massive growth in greenhouse emission. They are opting for sustainable development.

Some Facts:
1. China – is aiming to limit its carbon intensity by 40 to 45 percent by 2020 in relation to 2005 levels. This reduction is expected to be on the level of CO2 produced per unit of economic activity, which is a substantial figure.

2. India – Is going for a reduction of 20 to 25 percent of carbon intensity from 2005 to 2020.

3. South Korea – Is also going for a decrease in 30 percent of the carbon intensity emission for the same period (2005 to 2020).

In South Korea, according to the ambassador for climate change, Raekwon Chung, the target was established by the law in December and the government has since then prepared the plan. Two percent of South Korea’s gross domestic product is going to be invested in low-carbon production, new transportation system and higher-efficiency structures. This amounts to a total of $86 billion per year in green energy projects.

In the European Union, across the 27 members, the cut carbon intensity was expected to be 20 to 30 percent for the period 1990 to 2020. In Japan for the same period the target was 25 percent.

President Obama has promised a cut of 17 percent of carbon dioxide emission, in the united state for the period 2005 compared to 2020. However, legislations supporting this goal have not yet been enacted. It is thus not sure whether it is a full or empty promise.

However, Jennifer Morgan, director of the World Resources Institute’s climate and energy program, considers the need to enact climate change legislation before United States, ends up in the lower side of the competition list for low carbon sources of energy.

The commitment of countries like China, Europe, Japan and India are already showing that transparent actions are viable. It is first time ever that actions are being taken at this grand level. Green and clean economies are going to be the next bubble of growth.

Source: New York Times