CAN supports 1.5°

The Climate Action Network (CAN), a worldwide network of over 450 nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), decided in August to adopt a new climate policy target. CAN is now committed to the position that global average surface temperature should be limited to less than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This replaces their previous target of 2°C, a position held by CAN for more than 15 years.

In favour of the new 1.5°C target is the scientific reality that more than this amount of warming would lead to sea level rises threatening the existence of several small island states, and endangering communities and agricultural production in Africa. Additional, recent climate science suggests that dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system cannot be ruled out at 1.5°C, and that various tipping points initiating severe damage to several global ecosystems could lie between 0.5°C and 2°C of warming.

The 1.5°C target has been promoted within the United Nations by the coalition of 39 small island states (AOSIS) and the 49 poorest countries in the world (LDCs), including in the lead-up to the Copenhagen UN Climate Summit in 2009. The Copenhagen Accord, an agreement taken during the Copenhagen conference by more than 110 UN members including the US, EU, China, India, Brazil and South Africa, also includes a decision that a 1.5°C target shall be analysed by 2015. In the meantime, Bolivia and some other Latin American states have started to promote a 1°C target.

At the UN Climate negotiations in Bonn this June, parties discussed the creation of a mandate for preparing an initial scientific report on the 1.5°C and 2°C target, but this proposal was unfortunately turned down by four Arab States (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar). Most other country groups in the UN, including the US, expressed strong disappointment at the blocking of this very important mandate proposal. CAN supports 1.5°

Today more than 100 countries support the 1.5°C target. CAN and various scientific institutions are working to develop new strategies on how to reach this goal. CAN is demanding that the decision to create a UN mandate to prepare a paper on the scientific, technical and socio-economic issues relating to keeping global average temperature increases to no more than 1.5°C must be taken at the UN climate conference COP 16 in Cancun, with the report to be presented to the UN in spring 2011. CAN expects that this will inform deliberations on, amongst other things, emissions reductions and equitable effort-sharing.

CAN is also discussing the possibility of strengthening its 2020 target of 40 per cent greenhouse gas reductions in industrialised countries. AOSIS has for some time called for a 45 per cent reduction and Bolivia for a 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020, based on 1990 levels.

Reinhold Pape

In this issue

Air pollutant emissions to exceed limits

Only one in two member states expect to comply with their emission limits for all four air pollutants set by the EU national emission ceilings directive.

Free ride for company cars

The under-taxation of company cars in the EU increases annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from cars by between four and eight per cent, or between 21 and 43 million tonnes, a new study has found. The study also found that this under-taxation results in between eight and 21 million more cars on European roads.

Emission ceilings may be further postponed

The EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik is seeking to delay until 2013 the already long-overdue revision of the National Emissions Ceilings Directive.

Pollutant emissions fall

While air pollutant emissions from land-based sources in Europe continue to fall slightly, some reductions are countered by rising emissions from international shipping.

Agreement on Industrial Emissions Directive

Many years in the work, agreement has been reached on the new Industrial Emissions Directive, replacing seven existing directives and tightening standards – but not by enough.

New emission ceilings for 2020 underway

A new study shows significant scope for additional air pollutant reductions in Europe, along with the accompanying health and environmental improvements.

CAN supports 1.5°

The Climate Action Network (CAN), a worldwide network of over 450 nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), decided in August to adopt a new climate policy target.

1.5° is tough, but doable

A new report underscores that while a climate target of 1.5°C is difficult and filled with uncertainties, it remains feasible and achievable with the right level of ambition.

CCS in Europe: doomed

Reuters reports that a new study warns that Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology might barely get past the testing phase in Europe as the economic crisis and a shift to green power destroys incentives.

CCS in Germany: emotional

A new draft CCS law in Germany has done little to resolve the ongoing conflict over the issue.

CCS in Norway: postponed

CCS has been delayed for another four years, in an admission it is far from "off-the-shelf".

Renewables industry says – we can power the EU!

A new report by the European Renewable Energy Council provides hope of a more coordinated industry low-carbon lobby – and shows how to do 100 per cent renewables by 2050.

Europe's worst polluters: much work to do

Despite some required improvements, Europe's dirtiest power plants still emit vast amounts of air pollutants. The "Dirty Dozen" are still big, and still dirty.

High benefits of ship fuel action

Implementing internationally agreed stricter ship fuel sulphur standards may save 26,000 lives per year and provide economic benefits to health worth up to 26 times the costs.

The high costs of inaction

Publication of a long-awaited EU proposal to tighten national emission ceilings (NEC) for air pollutants may yet again be delayed by the Commission.

Main menu

CAN supports 1.5°

In this issue

Air pollutant emissions to exceed limits

Free ride for company cars

Emission ceilings may be further postponed

Pollutant emissions fall

Agreement on Industrial Emissions Directive

New emission ceilings for 2020 underway

CAN supports 1.5°

1.5° is tough, but doable

CCS in Europe: doomed

CCS in Germany: emotional

CCS in Norway: postponed

Renewables industry says – we can power the EU!

Europe's worst polluters: much work to do

High benefits of ship fuel action

The high costs of inaction

Publications

Food for Thought

Northern forests, climate change and the UNFCCC

EU climate targets aligned with the Paris agreement’s 1.5°C objective

Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Collaborative-Learning project

Air pollution in Europe and children’s health

Climate Change: A Himalayan Odessey

No further discussion needed. The agreed global goal is to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C

Fossil-free electricity 2021

What we do

Air pollution

Climate Change

Policy initiatives

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