WWF's latest report on climate change 'Crossing the Divide: How to Reduce the Emissions Abyss 2' shows how key countries can begin work now to close the 'emissions gap' - the gap between promised carbon reductions and what science tells us is needed. The countries featured in the report are mainly middle income and oil-rich countries, including Pakistan, Philippines, Kenya, Turkey, Colombia, UAE, Russia, Poland and the UK.
As the first wave of countries submit their national contributions to combat climate change in the period after 2020, it is already becoming clear that we are facing another huge emissions gap. This builds on an already existing emissions gap in the pre-2020 period. If governments continue on a low ambition path, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay below the 2°C, let alone a 1.5°C threshold. The report suggests possible ways to reduce emissions that can help to adapt and mitigate climate change in Pakistan, such as increasing use of renewable energy, creating a policy framework to encourage renewable energy, increasing increase energy efficiency and reducing deforestation and forest degradation.
According to Farrukh Zaman, Policy Officer, Building Capacity on Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Areas of Pakistan (CCAP) project, WWF-Pakistan, who also contributed to Pakistan's chapter in the report, 'The period between now and 2020 offers a unique opportunity to close the emissions gigatonne gap and keep the global temperature below two degrees, which is considered as a safe upper limit to avoid dangerous impacts of climate change. Many mitigation actions that are already taking place in many parts of the world have proven to be socially and economically feasible and can be implemented without any additional burden on countries. In many countries, especially developing ones, such actions are also reaping economic benefits for governments and the public, while simultaneously addressing climate change.'
According to Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General, WWF-Pakistan, 'Climate change is a trans-boundary issue and a responsibility for every country, whether a major climate change contributor or not, to adapt and mitigate to climate change. Strong and immediate climate action is required at all levels for the betterment of Pakistan as it will benefit us in the long run.'
Tasneem Essop, WWF's head of delegation to the UN climate negotiations, says there is plenty of ways governments around the world can limit their pre-2020 emissions. 'These range from scrapping coal-fired power stations and increasing renewables to improving energy efficiency, strengthening emissions targets and addressing deforestation.' The urgency to act on climate change is highlighted by the scientific evidence outlined in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, which makes it clear that emissions have to peak before 2020 and sharply reduce after that.
The WWF report aims at keeping a focus on the critical period leading to when a new climate agreement would take hold in 2020. With all eyeing the new post-2020 deal to be signed in Paris in December this year, there is a possibility that global attention will shift away from what needs to be done now. Moreover, if emissions figures go upwards, long-term targets will become even harder to meet. The report urges the world's governments to show will and determination to adapt and mitigate climate change immediately.-PR
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