EU: "It would be quite surprising if President Obama flew across the Atlantic to Copenhagen and just repeated the previously announced emission reduction targets of the United States." This is the statement made by Andreas Carlgren, Swedish Environment Minister who participated in the Copenhagen Climate Conference on behalf of the European Union, on the first day of the conference (65438+February 7th).
After the Danish Prime Minister Lars L Rasmussen, the host country of the conference, declared that "reaching an agreement is entirely possible", Carlgren's statement immediately revealed the tension at the negotiating table in the next two weeks.
Carlgren also claimed that the EU is ready to raise the emission reduction target from 20% to 30%, but it needs further efforts from other parties present.
Germany: seeking to play a leading role in emission reduction
Key points: I hope to promote the export of clean energy technology through climate protection.
Germany attaches great importance to climate change and environmental protection, and took the lead in formulating a national plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the early 1990s. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by vigorously developing renewable energy, Germany also seeks to play a leading role in global climate change.
In terms of international emission reduction, Germany believes that industrialized countries led by the United States should undertake the main emission reduction obligations, but emerging industrial countries such as China and India should also take corresponding measures. Hope to promote the export of its world-leading clean energy technology by advocating climate protection.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel 10 called on the international community to take concerted action to eliminate the harm caused by climate warming in her speech to the US Congress on March 3. Merkel expressed the hope that the United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in Copenhagen in June+February, 5438 will reach a consensus on the goal that the average temperature of the earth will not rise by more than 2 degrees Celsius. Merkel said: "We need a new agreement. The whole world is watching the United States and Europe." She stressed that the opportunity to protect the living environment of mankind should not be missed, and overcoming global challenges can only be achieved through the cooperation of the international community. Merkel urged the US Congress to take practical actions to pass the greenhouse gas emission reduction bill, thus contributing to the outcome of the Copenhagen conference.
In the early 1990s, Germany took the lead in formulating a national plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. At that time, the Bundestag decided that on the basis of 1999, by 2005, Germany would reduce the total carbon dioxide emissions of industry, households and transportation by 25 percentage points. Under the constraint of this plan, Germany's greenhouse gas emissions in 2007 decreased by 2 1.3% compared with 1990.
In June 2008, the German Bundestag passed the "Climate and Energy Package" proposed by the government, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Germany by 40% compared with 1990 by 2020. In order to achieve this goal, Germany vigorously develops renewable energy, mainly wind power generation and solar power generation, increases the contribution rate of renewable energy to the national energy demand, and strives to increase the proportion of clean energy power generation in Germany from 15% to 30% by 2020. Germany will also invest heavily in promoting the promotion of clean energy vehicles and new building insulation materials.
Russia: capable of achieving the goal of reducing emissions by 40%.
Viewpoint: It is suggested to establish a multilateral or global environmental protection fund.
A few days ago, the reporter interviewed Alexei, a Russian climate change expert and head of the global climate change project of WWF's Russian representative office. Kokorin. He said that Russia is less affected by climate change, and the Russian government does not think it is urgent to solve the climate change problem. Russia is fully capable of becoming a leading country in international emission reduction.
Kokorin said that the Russian government has done a lot of work in greenhouse gas emission reduction, and formulated relevant energy-saving and renewable energy development plans. The implementation of these plans will effectively curb the growth of greenhouse gas emissions, thus helping to reduce Russia's emission level. However, he believes that the motivation of the Russian government to take these actions is more to get rid of the economy's excessive dependence on energy.
Kokorin said that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expounded Russia's international emission reduction obligations before the G-8 summit in June this year, mainly including two aspects: First, Russia plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 billion tons by 2020; Second, Russia plans to reduce emissions by 1990 10%- 15% by 2020. Kokorin believes that it needs to be revised here, because the forest factor is not considered in this index, and the forest can absorb about 65,438+00% of greenhouse gases. In addition, Russia's economic growth rate exceeds the growth rate of emissions. For example, from 2000 to 2007, Russia's economy grew at a high speed, and its annual emissions only increased by 1%- 1.5%, so Russia can actually achieve the emission reduction target of 40%. This shows that Russia is fully capable of becoming a leading country in international emission reduction. Of course, this requires Russia to make efforts in energy conservation, energy efficiency improvement and afforestation.
Kokorin believes that Russia can conditionally provide financial support to developing countries.
The plan under discussion in Russia is to establish a multilateral or global fund, similar to the Global Environment Facility, which will engage in green technology transfer, help developing countries reduce emissions, adapt to climate change and prevent large-scale commercial logging of tropical rainforests. Such funds should not operate under the mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, because this will limit the number of countries providing funds, but they cannot be completely divorced from the Convention and can be supervised by the relevant institutions of the Convention. In this case, Russia will provide some funds.
Australia: actively promote emission reduction legislation
Key points: We hope to play a greater role in the international arena through climate change affairs.
Climate change has been a priority policy goal since Rudd's government came to power in Australia. The Australian government urged China to pass the greenhouse gas emissions trading bill before the joint climate change conference in June+February, 5438, hoping to play a leading role in the South Pacific and play a greater role in the international arena through climate change affairs.
Global warming will affect Australia's biodiversity, and sea level rise will directly threaten the survival of Australia's surrounding islands. However, due to the differences of domestic interest groups and the pressure of economic development,
Australia has been hesitant to deal with climate change. Until 65438+February 3, 2007, the new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd signed the Kyoto Protocol, which was the first major event that Kevin Rudd and his government did after being sworn in that day. At that time, he issued a statement saying, "This is the first official action of the new government, which shows the determination of the new government to deal with climate change and is of great significance for Australia to continue to cope with global climate change at home and with the international community."
The greenhouse gas emissions trading bill actively promoted by Kevin Rudd's government is called "one of the most ambitious emission reduction plans", with the goal of reducing Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020. The bill also binds nearly 1000 large polluting enterprises in Australia to buy carbon dioxide emission quotas, which account for more than 75% of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions.
Australia's greenhouse gas emissions only account for about 1.5% of global emissions, but its per capita greenhouse gas emissions have surpassed those of the United States because of its heavy dependence on coal for power generation. According to the latest report released by the Australian Department of Climate Change and Water Resources on August 9th, from1September 1998 to March 2009, the greenhouse gas emissions in Australia increased by 1.6% annually on average. If greenhouse gas emissions are not controlled, carbon pollution in Australia will be 20% more serious than that in 2000 by 2020.
The Australian government was scheduled to start implementing greenhouse gas emissions trading next year, but the bill was blocked again and again after it was submitted to Congress. At present, the Australian government and the opposition party are still negotiating and continue to urge the bill to be passed before the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Brazil: "voluntary" emission reduction decision
Key points: Brazil still has great potential for emission reduction.
Brasilia, Brazil–The Brazilian government announced on June 165438+ 10/3 that it plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 36. 1% to 38.9% on the expected basis by 2020. Brazil will submit this emission reduction plan to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in June+February, 5438.
According to Brazilian media reports, Brazilian President Lula 165438+ 10 13 convened a meeting of heads of civil affairs offices, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Science and Technology and other relevant departments in Sao Paulo to reach an agreement on emission reduction targets. Dilma, director of the Brazilian Civil Office? Rousseff said at a news conference that she hoped that this "voluntary" commitment to reduce emissions would show the world the clear position of the Brazilian government in tackling climate change.
Rousseff said that the most optimistic estimate is to achieve the goal of reducing emissions by 38.9% by 2020, including 6. 1% for agriculture and animal husbandry, 7.7% for energy industry and 0.4% for steel enterprises. Some analysts say that if this goal can be achieved, Brazil's greenhouse gas emissions will be close to its emission level in 2020 1994, which is equivalent to a reduction of 20% on the basis of 2005.
As the largest developing country in the southern hemisphere, Brazil has a clear-cut attitude on climate change. President Lula has repeatedly asked developed countries to fully realize their historical responsibilities and make greater commitments in reducing emissions.
According to a preliminary report compiled by the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology, the total area of forest farms in Brazil is 360,000 square kilometers, almost equal to that of Germany. As long as Brazil aims to reduce 80% of deforestation in 18% forest farms, it is equivalent to reducing1.25438+billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Brazil is also a big country in biofuel research and development. If the application of biofuels is further promoted, 50 million tons of carbon dioxide can be reduced every year. In addition, if the government subsidizes returning farmland to forests in agriculture, 65,438+0,654,380+0 million hectares of grassland for grazing will be restored.
Carlos, a meteorologist at the National Wide-area Institute of Brazil? "This is only a preliminary estimate, but it shows that Brazil has great emission reduction potential," Noble said.
Africa: speak with one voice
Key points: seek $65 billion in environmental compensation
Before the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, African countries unified their positions and sought industrialized countries to pay $65 billion as compensation for the victims with the least carbon dioxide emissions and the greatest impact.
In August this year, African countries held ministerial meetings and special summits of 65,438+00 countries in succession to discuss their common position in Copenhagen. In September, members of the Southern African Development Community 14 held a summit in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to further coordinate their positions on climate change. 10 10 In early October, African countries held a meeting in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, and decided to seek $65 billion in environmental compensation from industrialized countries, and demanded that industrialized countries reduce their emissions by at least 40% compared with the level of the 1990s by 2020.
Africa, with 53 countries, has a greater say in Copenhagen. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles said in early September that African countries only want to use their "quantitative" advantages to seek a favorable climate change convention, otherwise they will veto any agreement. He also revealed that Africa will send a unified team to attend the meeting to negotiate on behalf of African countries and the African Union, and it is absolutely not allowed to reach another agreement that is not conducive to Africa.
African countries are also preparing to form an 80-nation alliance with island countries and other poor countries to seek the goal that the global average temperature increase will not exceed 65,438 0.5 degrees Celsius compared with that before industrialization by 2020, which actually requires industrialized countries to achieve at least 45% emission reduction.
Earlier this year, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles pointed out that the pollution in the northern hemisphere was closely related to the famine that the country suffered in the 1980s, and rich countries should pay compensation.
According to a report published by the Geneva-based Global Humanitarian Forum in May this year, the total emissions of the 50 poorest countries in the world are less than 1%, but more than 90% of them are suffering from the adverse effects of climate change.
United States: Still holding a negative attitude towards climate negotiations.
Key points: It is necessary to set up obstacles to the transfer of advanced energy technologies.
After the Obama administration took office, it actively pushed Congress to pass legislation to formulate medium-and long-term plans for the US climate policy, but the legislative process was far behind expectations. At present, as the country with the largest per capita greenhouse gas emissions, the United States is still passive in dealing with climate change, which makes the prospect of reaching a comprehensive climate agreement in Copenhagen not optimistic.
The withdrawal of the United States from the Kyoto Protocol under former President Bush disappointed the international community. The United States has been the target of criticism because of its negative attitude towards climate change.
After Obama took office, the United States showed a more positive attitude on climate change. In his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly in late September this year, Obama acknowledged that climate change was caused by human activities and believed that climate change could only be solved by human beings themselves. Obama acknowledged that climate change is mainly caused by developed countries, which have the obligation to play a leading role in the global response to climate change. The United States will achieve emission reduction targets by investing in clean energy, improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions.
According to the American Clean Energy Security Act (also known as the Climate Act) passed by the US House of Representatives at the end of June, the greenhouse gas emissions of the United States in 2020 will be reduced by 17% on the basis of 2005 (equivalent to a reduction of 4% on the basis of 1990) and will be reduced by 83% by 2050. The bill also introduces a greenhouse gas emissions trading mechanism called "cap and trade" to promote the formation of the US carbon trading market.
In the climate bill announced by Senate Democrats at the end of September, based on 2005, the emission reduction targets for 2020 and 2050 were set at 20% and 80% respectively, and the short-term emission reduction targets were set higher. However, analysts believe that this bill is difficult to pass.
165438+1On October 3, the declaration issued by the US-Europe summit indicated that the United States hopes to achieve the goal of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions by 50% on the basis of 1990 in 2050.
At present, the clean energy technology in the United States is mainly in the hands of private enterprises, and commercial transactions between enterprises are the main channel for technology transfer. The American government believes that technology transfer between enterprises involves commercial interests and intellectual property rights, and it is necessary to follow the market rules and strive for success. For this reason, the U.S. government has not been very active in promoting technology transfer, and sometimes even set obstacles to the transfer of advanced clean energy technologies to developing countries. The US House of Representatives also passed a resolution in June, claiming to formulate policies to prevent the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference from weakening the intellectual property rights of the United States in clean energy technologies such as wind energy and solar energy.
Japan: Emission reduction targets have sparked domestic debate.
Key points: Worried that emission reduction targets will affect its international competitiveness.
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) government is more active in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and Yukio Hatoyama put forward the goal of "reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25%" shortly after he took office as prime minister. However, this move has caused controversy in Japan, and the economic community has serious resistance to "reducing emissions by 25%". Whether this goal can be specifically implemented remains to be seen. On the other hand, for its own benefit, the Hatoyama government has a positive attitude towards providing emission reduction assistance and technology transfer to developing countries.
In the previous LDP era, although Fukuda's cabinet proposed a long-term goal of reducing emissions by 60% to 80% compared with 2005, it did not express its position on the medium-term goal in 2020. As late as June this year, Aso's cabinet indicated the medium-term goal of reducing emissions by 65,438+05% in 2020 compared with 2005. The international community, especially developing countries, generally believe that this emission reduction target is too negative.
After Yukio Hatoyama was elected Japanese Prime Minister, he announced the medium-term target of reducing emissions by 25% in 2020 compared with 1990 in late September, which was well received by western media.
Although Hatoyama left room for Japan in his statement, he stressed that the premise of the above emission reduction targets is to build a fair and effective international framework that includes all the "major emitters" of greenhouse gases in the world. However, this goal has caused a heated debate in Japan.
Japanese economic circles are mainly worried that excessive emission reduction targets will affect their international competitiveness, especially in the fields of steel, electricity and oil. At present, the heads of economic organizations such as the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations and some large enterprises have publicly asked the government to reconsider this goal. Many business leaders claim that the goal of "reducing emissions by 25%" will further lead to the hollowing out of Japanese industries and an increase in unemployment. According to the calculation of Aso's cabinet era, even the emission reduction target of 8% will reduce Japan's real GDP by 0.6% every year, increase the unemployment rate by 0.2%, and increase the average annual household burden by 77,000 yen. If the target is 25%, the unemployment rate in Japan will increase by 1.3 percentage points, and the family burden will increase by 360,000 yen. At the request of the opposition party, Hatoyama's cabinet decided to re-measure the impact of the 25% emission reduction target on the family burden at the end of 10.