This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/science-environment-16052262
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| UN climate talks 'ambition' call | UN climate talks 'ambition' call |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News, Durban | By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News, Durban |
| The Earth is likely to be about 3.5C warmer in 2100 than it was before human industry and agriculture began putting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. | The Earth is likely to be about 3.5C warmer in 2100 than it was before human industry and agriculture began putting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. |
| That is the conclusion of analysts who have calculated the effects of governments' pledges to curb emissions. | That is the conclusion of analysts who have calculated the effects of governments' pledges to curb emissions. |
| Last year, governments agreed to try to keep warming below 2C (3.6F). | Last year, governments agreed to try to keep warming below 2C (3.6F). |
| The report, launched at the UN climate talks in South Africa, prompted the International Energy Agency (IEA) to ask governments for more ambition. | The report, launched at the UN climate talks in South Africa, prompted the International Energy Agency (IEA) to ask governments for more ambition. |
| "The door to achieving our objectives is rapidly closing," said IEA executive director Maria van der Hoeven. | "The door to achieving our objectives is rapidly closing," said IEA executive director Maria van der Hoeven. |
| "While I strongly urge an agreement on emissions, I have a simple message for the participants in these talks: don't wait for a global deal - act now." | "While I strongly urge an agreement on emissions, I have a simple message for the participants in these talks: don't wait for a global deal - act now." |
| The longer governments wait, the more they risk locking themselves into a high-carbon energy system that is insecure and inefficient, the agency said. | The longer governments wait, the more they risk locking themselves into a high-carbon energy system that is insecure and inefficient, the agency said. |
| Ms van der Hoeven's words were echoed by a plethora of campaign groups around the conference venue here, whose hopes are pinned on ministerial level talks lasting the rest of the week. | Ms van der Hoeven's words were echoed by a plethora of campaign groups around the conference venue here, whose hopes are pinned on ministerial level talks lasting the rest of the week. |
| Costs of delay | Costs of delay |
| While governments have endorsed the 2C target, the collective pledges they have made are putting the world on a completely different trajectory, according to the href="http://www.ecofys.com/en/news/93/" >latest Climate Action Tracker analysis by researchers at Climate Analytics, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Ecofys. | |
| Their top-line conclusion is that warming of about 3.5C is likely by 2100. | Their top-line conclusion is that warming of about 3.5C is likely by 2100. |
| That could be brought down by tougher caps on emissions after the current pledges' end-date of 2020; but that would be far more expensive, they calculate. | That could be brought down by tougher caps on emissions after the current pledges' end-date of 2020; but that would be far more expensive, they calculate. |
| "To put it bluntly, the longer we wait, the less options we will have, the more it will cost, the less likely we are to be able to stay below global warming of 2C, and the bigger the threat to the world's most vulnerable," said Bill Hare, director of Climate Analytics. | "To put it bluntly, the longer we wait, the less options we will have, the more it will cost, the less likely we are to be able to stay below global warming of 2C, and the bigger the threat to the world's most vulnerable," said Bill Hare, director of Climate Analytics. |
| A United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) report issued two weeks ago reached broadly similar conclusions. | A United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) report issued two weeks ago reached broadly similar conclusions. |
| The Climate Action Tracker also appeals to governments to rationalise the procedures they use to measure emissions. | The Climate Action Tracker also appeals to governments to rationalise the procedures they use to measure emissions. |
| In recent years, governments such as the US, Canada and Australia have couched their pledges in relation to a base year other than 1990, the standard used in the UN climate convention (UNFCCC), which makes unravelling the implications of those pledges more difficult. | In recent years, governments such as the US, Canada and Australia have couched their pledges in relation to a base year other than 1990, the standard used in the UN climate convention (UNFCCC), which makes unravelling the implications of those pledges more difficult. |
| Science calling | Science calling |
| The talks themselves are entering a crucial phase, as ministers arrive to make their set-piece speeches and to attempt to reach an agreement on the draft texts their negotiators have assembled. | The talks themselves are entering a crucial phase, as ministers arrive to make their set-piece speeches and to attempt to reach an agreement on the draft texts their negotiators have assembled. |
| Climate change glossary Select a term to learn more: Adaptation Action that helps cope with the effects of climate change - for example construction of barriers to protect against rising sea levels, or conversion to crops capable of surviving high temperatures and drought. Glossary in full | Climate change glossary Select a term to learn more: Adaptation Action that helps cope with the effects of climate change - for example construction of barriers to protect against rising sea levels, or conversion to crops capable of surviving high temperatures and drought. Glossary in full |
| China holds the pivotal position. It has said it is willing to engage in a process leading towards a new legally-binding global agreement, provided certain conditions are met. | China holds the pivotal position. It has said it is willing to engage in a process leading towards a new legally-binding global agreement, provided certain conditions are met. |
| But important questions remain over the precise meaning of some of those conditions. | But important questions remain over the precise meaning of some of those conditions. |
| While environment groups and many delegations are desperate to agree a package of measures leaving Durban, some are concerned that an overwhelming desire for an agreement could make the final document very weak. | While environment groups and many delegations are desperate to agree a package of measures leaving Durban, some are concerned that an overwhelming desire for an agreement could make the final document very weak. |
| They maintain that it should be based on the science coming from groups such as Unep, Climate Analytics and the IEA. | They maintain that it should be based on the science coming from groups such as Unep, Climate Analytics and the IEA. |
| "Ministers here in Durban have no excuse if they ignore the deafening alarm bells coming from the scientific community," said Keith Allott, head of climate Change at WWF-UK. | "Ministers here in Durban have no excuse if they ignore the deafening alarm bells coming from the scientific community," said Keith Allott, head of climate Change at WWF-UK. |
| "Durban can and must agree a second Kyoto Protocol commitment period, and a mandate to strike a comprehensive legal agreement in 2015. | "Durban can and must agree a second Kyoto Protocol commitment period, and a mandate to strike a comprehensive legal agreement in 2015. |
| "But we also need strong action to increase ambition right now - being legally bound to a world of 4C warming is simply unacceptable." | "But we also need strong action to increase ambition right now - being legally bound to a world of 4C warming is simply unacceptable." |
| Follow Richard on Twitter | Follow Richard on Twitter |