Climate experts were consulted on the steps to be taken to put in place a binding climate protection agreement as of 2012. A so-called Bali roadmap is to lay out the salient points to be negotiated
and a time schedule for negotiations.
One thing is, however, already clear. Negotiations for the new agreement must be wound up by 2009, to ensure that there is no gap following the expiry of
the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.
"Time is of the essence, because the international climate council tells us we must halve CO2 emissions in the long term – by the middle of this century,” This is such an enormous task that the international community can only solve it together.
(year 1990 is stated 0)......................... 1990 .......2008 ......... 2018 .......... 2030
carbon dioxide concentration................350.......... 385 .......... 408 .......... - 55%
temperature ............................................ 0C......... 0,3C .......... 0,9C ...........
sea-level................................................... 0 cm ..... 5,5 cm .......8,6 cm ..............
energy savings ............................................................................................. 30%
functioning renewables .............................................................................. 27%
|
|
Both sites contains information about a European research project (CO2 capture, sink and storage) dealing with research on geological storage of CO2 as a means of reducing green house gas emissions. The main cause of climate change or global warming effects is believed to be the accumulation of methane (CH4) and the carbon dioxide (CO2) gas in the atmosphere. This accumulation is a result of the extensive burning of fossil fuels that began during the Industrial Revolution.
We can reduce the volume of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere by collecting and storing it deep underground. The concept is a simple one, but establishing whether the technique can be. The capture and storage of CO2 could play a significant role in reducing the release of green-house gases to the atmosphere.
Approximately one third of all CO2 emissions due to human activity come from fossil fuels used for generating electricity, with each power plant capable of emitting several million tonnes of CO2 annually.
No lack of plans. Europe must be climate neutral by mid-century. No more emissions of greenhouse gases and if that is the case, they must be collected and stored. This is the ambition of the European Commission, on behalf of the (still) 28 EU countries (Strategy for a climate neutral Europe by 2050 – Questions and answers). |
|
What does Europe want?
- Energy-efficient housesLess 'old' fuelsMore trainsfewer trucksTaxing aviationCO2 collection and storage
- Fast linking of energy networks
Sweden came up with a solution for the choice between environmental policy and social justice: the entire tax revenue received from environmental taxes is recycled to citizens.
The Ministry of Finance annually determines the total revenue from the environmental tax and divides it by the number of taxpayers. Each taxpayer then receives a credit from the tax authorities stating "refund environmental tax". Those who behave in an environmentally friendly way pay less than the received credit, more polluters more than the received credit and receive relatively little back. |
|