30 May 2009

The latest scientific research from the IPCC tells us that the impacts of climate change will appear sooner and be even more severe than previously anticipated.

Not only will the effects of climate change be felt in Europe, but extreme temperature increases, flooding, and drought will be particularly devastating for least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS).  Scientists agree that global warming must be kept well below the dangerous level of 2°C in order to avoid the most disastrous effects of climate change.  In practice, this requires a global peak in emissions at the latest by 2015 followed by a sharp decline thereafter to global emissions reductions on the order of 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.  

In Copenhagen, Parties must agree to a legally-binding, science-based and equitable agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol.  The Copenhagen agreement must solidify a new round of commitments for reduction in green house gas emissions from industrialized countries, as well as to bring on board developing countries to make nationally appropriate contributions.   It will also need to contain provisions for substantial finance, technology and other support to developing countries that will need to adapt to climate change and to substantially deviate from current trajectories for emission growth.