– A round-up of the day’s top climate change stories
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EU: The EU has proposed tackling the potent warming gases HFCs in an effort to speed up cuts in greenhouse gases. Although released in small volumes, HFC can thousands of times more efficient in warming the atmosphere than CO2. The EU wants to use the Montreal Protocol, originally designed to phase out ozone depleting chemicals.
“We and others believe the best framework for implementing the phase down is the Montreal protocol,” lead negotiator for the bloc Artur Runge-Metzger said at the UN talks in Bonn. “It has 25 years of experience in addressing fluorinated gases and dealing with the same industry sectors that are affected.” (Bloomberg)
The growing use of HFC gases in air conditioners and refrigerators is increasing their contribution to global warming (Source: Flickr/NiallKennedy)
UK: Parliament will today vote on whether to back an amendment that would add a 2030 decarbonisation target for electricity generators to the country’s new energy bill. Around 250 MPs support the plan with 321 required for it to pass. (The Independent)
India: India has failed to keep its commitments to tackle climate change, according to an expert from the Energy Services Company (ESCO). Dilip Limaye said bureaucracy often got in the way in India and that China had now eclipsed it.
“A lot of the initiatives that the Indian government has taken look great on paper, but in reality there has not been an improvement in the market, which is the difference between India and China,” said Limaye. (Times of India)
Australia: A new report has cast doubts on whether the Australian opposition’s plan to tackle climate change through tree planting would actually work. They want to ditch the country’s carbon tax and proposed carbon trading in favour of planting 20m trees to store more carbon from the atmosphere. There are concerns that it would be too short term however. (The Guardian)
UNFCCC: Concrete plans to deliver finance, technology and capacity building to combat climate change are still woefully inadequate, 83 developing nations have warned in a statement at the United Nations climate negotiations.
The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) groups, which represent over 920 million people, say UN talks in Bonn over the next two weeks must focus on short-term efforts to address rising levels of carbon emissions. (RTCC)