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In a year dominated by COVID-19, it is perhaps understandable that we have neglected the deepest existential crisis we face: runaway climate change. But we must make up for lost time quickly, before it is too late.
Fortunately, the prospects for effective international climate action in 2021 already look much better than a few months ago. For starters, as soon as President-elect Joe Biden takes office in January, the United States will rejoin 2015. Paris climate agreement – the historical protocol that aims to limit global warming to well below 2 ° C, and preferably 1.5 ° C, relative to pre-industrial levels.
This will send an unmistakable signal that the world’s largest economy is once again serious about accelerating its transition to net carbon dioxide emissions, building on China’s recent commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2060. These two superpowers will define the twenty-first. century, so the prospect of their enhanced climate collaboration provides real reason for optimism.
The European Union also continues with its ambitious European Green Deal and aims to be climate neutral by 2050. And British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ten point plan for a green industrial revolution it also points the way forward. Energy efficiency and diversification, sustainable housing and infrastructure, renewable energy generation, green technologies, carbon capture and storage, and nature-based solutions provide a clear path to a net future zero. This is the “Marshall Plan for the Planet” that we urgently need, and we must now redouble our efforts to achieve a true green recovery.
It is encouraging to see the mobilization of the international community. Next year, China will play a critical role in helping to protect and restore nature by hosting the United Nations Conference on Biological Diversity (COP15). The meeting comes at a critical moment: a million species they are threatened with extinction, and the destruction of our oceans, forests, peatlands and mangroves, which act as essential carbon sinks, has unfortunately become a routine matter.
Valued at $ 125 billion a year, our natural capital and biodiversity are the true source of our wealth. Or, as the economist Herman Daly argues, “the economy is a subsidiary of the environment, not the other way around.” That’s why Business for Nature, a diverse group of more than 600 companies and 50 partner organizations, advocates for more ambitious corporate and government action to provide nature with the safety net it needs to flourish.
UN next year Food systems and Nutrition for growth the summits will also be important opportunities to increase collective ambition. We urgently need to reuse farm subsidies to deliver better results for people, the climate and nature. In addition, we must shift public food purchasing towards plant-based diets away from highly processed foods, implement more productive and regenerative agricultural practices, support rural livelihoods, and commit to ambitious goals to reduce food loss and waste. . Given that 25% of global CO2 emissions are linked to land use, we must not underestimate the contribution that the transformation of food systems can make in the fight against climate change.
But perhaps the most critical international meeting in 2021 will be in November. UN Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow. Governments must push their carbon reduction measures in a race to the top that helps the world achieve net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. Crucially, COP26 must also maintain the commitment of rich countries to provide poorer economies with the climate finance they need to manage extreme weather hazards (storms, droughts and forest fires) that are increasing in prevalence and holding back their development and growth. .
That said, decisive climate action cannot be the sole responsibility of governments. Businesses must also play their role by setting science-based emission reduction targets, improving energy efficiency, improving climate reporting and disclosures, and removing deforestation from supply chains.
The We Mean Business coalition is a great example of joint private sector action. Companies with a combined market capitalization of more than $ 24 trillion are working together to drive more ambitious climate policies and accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon economy. Similarly, the Working Group on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures is helping companies better estimate the risks and opportunities of climate change, thus making it easier for investors to support sustainable businesses. This is creating a domino effect that is helping to move financial markets in a greener direction.
The pandemic has caused a decrease on greenhouse gas emissions and the resurgence of nature. But a brief respite for the planet is no substitute for a coherent global climate strategy. In all, 2021 promises to be a great year for climate action, with the stars aligning for a cleaner and more sustainable future. We must seize the opportunity while we can.
Editor’s Note: Paul Polman is president of the Food and Land Use Coalition. The opinions expressed in the article do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Reporter.
Contributed by Paul polman
