Misplaced Pages

#308691

77-580: Proponents of the agreement argue that governments must shift public finance away from fossil fuels because "governments control them directly, and they can influence much larger private financial flows," and that "shifting public support from fossil fuels to clean energy is one way to bridge the gap in financing for clean energy." The UK Government launched the Glasgow Statement at COP26 following implementation of its own policy to end international public finance for fossil fuels. The Glasgow Statement

154-416: A plant-based diet , having fewer children, using clothes and electrical products for longer, and electrifying homes. These approaches are more practical for people in high-income countries with high-consumption lifestyles. Naturally, it is more difficult for those with lower income statuses to make these changes. This is because choices like electric-powered cars may not be available. Excessive consumption

231-636: A bigger effect than population growth. Rising incomes, changes in consumption and dietary patterns, as well as population growth, cause pressure on land and other natural resources. This leads to more greenhouse gas emissions and fewer carbon sinks. Some scholars have argued that humane policies to slow population growth should be part of a broad climate response together with policies that end fossil fuel use and encourage sustainable consumption. Advances in female education and reproductive health , especially voluntary family planning , can contribute to reducing population growth. An important mitigation measure

308-518: A calendar of upcoming events related to the 2030 Agenda. The Hub's coverage of the 2030 Agenda tracks the efforts underway in this area at all levels of governance, from communities to intergovernmental bodies. Its articles examine how this range of actors is pursuing the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, along with the challenges they face and the opportunities for collaboration that exist. It also looks to set

385-744: A centre which will promote internationally the concept of environmentally sustainable development," to be headquartered in Winnipeg. The new centre would be part of Canada's contribution to preparations for what became the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio Earth Summit . Two years later in 1990, IISD was formally set up, following the signature of an agreement between then-Canadian Environment Minister Lucien Bouchard and Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon . In 1992, IISD became

462-534: A climate mitigation option. The terminology in this area is still evolving. Experts sometimes use the term geoengineering or climate engineering in the scientific literature for both CDR or SRM, if the techniques are used at a global scale. IPCC reports no longer use the terms geoengineering or climate engineering . GHG emissions 2020 by gas type without land-use change using 100 year GWP Total: 49.8 GtCO 2 e CO 2 emissions by fuel type Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities strengthen

539-656: A definitive or detailed evaluation of most goals set for 2020. But it appears the world failed to meet most or all international goals set for that year. One update came during the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. The group of researchers running the Climate Action Tracker looked at countries responsible for 85% of greenhouse gas emissions. It found that only four countries or political entities—the EU, UK, Chile and Costa Rica—have published

616-540: A detailed official policy‑plan that describes the steps to realise 2030 mitigation targets. These four polities are responsible for 6% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In 2021 the US and EU launched the Global Methane Pledge to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030. The UK, Argentina, Indonesia, Italy and Mexico joined the initiative. Ghana and Iraq signaled interest in joining. A White House summary of

693-444: A greenhouse gas, an aerosol or a precursor of a greenhouse gas from the atmosphere". Globally, the two most important carbon sinks are vegetation and the ocean . To enhance the ability of ecosystems to sequester carbon, changes are necessary in agriculture and forestry. Examples are preventing deforestation and restoring natural ecosystems by reforestation . Scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5 °C typically project

770-402: A low efficiency of less than 50%. Large amounts of heat in power plants and in motors of vehicles go to waste. The actual amount of energy consumed is significantly lower at 116,000 TWh. Energy conservation is the effort made to reduce the consumption of energy by using less of an energy service. One way is to use energy more efficiently . This means using less energy than before to produce

847-481: A lower status. If they reduce their emissions and promote green policies, these people could become low-carbon lifestyle role models. However, there are many psychological variables that influence consumers. These include awareness and perceived risk. Government policies can support or hinder demand-side mitigation options. For example, public policy can promote circular economy concepts which would support climate change mitigation. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

SECTION 10

#1732764850309

924-592: A major increase in the use of renewable energy in combination with increased energy efficiency measures. It will be necessary to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy six-fold from 0.25% annual growth in 2015 to 1.5% to keep global warming under 2 °C. The competitiveness of renewable energy is a key to a rapid deployment. In 2020, onshore wind and solar photovoltaics were the cheapest source for new bulk electricity generation in many regions. Renewables may have higher storage costs but non-renewables may have higher clean-up costs. A carbon price can increase

1001-464: A more efficient technology or production process. Another way is to use commonly accepted methods to reduce energy losses. Individual action on climate change can include personal choices in many areas. These include diet, travel, household energy use, consumption of goods and services, and family size. People who wish to reduce their carbon footprint can take high-impact actions such as avoiding frequent flying and petrol-fuelled cars, eating mainly

1078-552: A plant-based diet, vast amounts of land used for animal agriculture could be allowed to return to their natural state . This in turn has the potential to sequester 100 billion tonnes of CO 2 by the end of the century. A comprehensive analysis found that plant based diets reduce emissions, water pollution and land use significantly (by 75%), while reducing the destruction of wildlife and usage of water. Population growth has resulted in higher greenhouse gas emissions in most regions, particularly Africa. However, economic growth has

1155-774: A side event at the United Nations Climate Conference in Lima, Peru. The Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development emerged as a UN Type II partnership following the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was originally established in 2005 by the Canadian and South African governments as the Global Dialogue on Mining/Metals and Sustainable Development. IISD became

1232-432: Is coal-fired power stations with 20% of greenhouse gas emissions. Deforestation and other changes in land use also emit carbon dioxide and methane. The largest sources of anthropogenic methane emissions are agriculture , and gas venting and fugitive emissions from the fossil-fuel industry. The largest agricultural methane source is livestock. Agricultural soils emit nitrous oxide , partly due to fertilizers. There

1309-539: Is pumped-storage hydroelectricity . This requires locations with large differences in height and access to water. Batteries are also in wide use. They typically store electricity for short periods. Batteries have low energy density . This and their cost makes them impractical for the large energy storage necessary to balance inter-seasonal variations in energy production. Some locations have implemented pumped hydro storage with capacity for multi-month usage. Nuclear power could complement renewables for electricity. On

1386-460: Is "preserving and enhancing carbon sinks ". This refers to the management of Earth's natural carbon sinks in a way that preserves or increases their capability to remove CO 2 from the atmosphere and to store it durably. Scientists call this process also carbon sequestration . In the context of climate change mitigation, the IPCC defines a sink as "Any process, activity or mechanism which removes

1463-698: Is an independent think tank founded in 1990 working to shape and inform international policy on sustainable development governance. The institute has three offices in Canada - Winnipeg , Ottawa , and Toronto , and one office in Geneva , Switzerland. It has over 150 staff and associates working in over 30 countries. IISD is a registered charitable organization in Canada. In 1988 at the United Nations General Assembly, then-Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney announced plans to "establish

1540-695: Is by reducing the demand by improving infrastructure, by building a good public transport network, for example. Lastly, changes in end-use technology can reduce energy demand. For instance a well-insulated house emits less than a poorly-insulated house. Mitigation options that reduce demand for products or services help people make personal choices to reduce their carbon footprint . This could be in their choice of transport or food. So these mitigation options have many social aspects that focus on demand reduction; they are therefore demand-side mitigation actions . For example, people with high socio-economic status often cause more greenhouse gas emissions than those from

1617-413: Is competitive with other electricity generation technologies if long term costs for nuclear waste disposal are excluded from the calculation. There is also no sufficient financial insurance for nuclear accidents. Switching from coal to natural gas has advantages in terms of sustainability. For a given unit of energy produced, the life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions of natural gas are around 40 times

SECTION 20

#1732764850309

1694-420: Is currently a high cost climate change mitigation strategy. Human land use changes such as agriculture and deforestation cause about 1/4th of climate change. These changes impact how much CO 2 is absorbed by plant matter and how much organic matter decays or burns to release CO 2 . These changes are part of the fast carbon cycle , whereas fossil fuels release CO 2 that was buried underground as part of

1771-411: Is found for reducing deforestation in tropical regions. The economic potential of these activities has been estimated to be 4.2 to 7.4 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO 2 -eq) per year. The Stern Review on the economics of climate change stated in 2007 that curbing deforestation was a highly cost-effective way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. About 95% of deforestation occurs in

1848-817: Is held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland and hosted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The SDG Knowledge Hub is an online resource center for news and commentary regarding the implementation of the United Natio,ns’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDG Knowledge Hub was launched in October 2016 and contains news, original commentary from IISD experts, and guest articles. The SDG Knowledge Hub also provides

1925-621: Is higher in the winter when PV output is low. For this reason, combinations of wind and solar power lead to better-balanced systems. Other well-established renewable energy forms include hydropower, bioenergy and geothermal energy. Wind and solar power production does not consistently match demand. To deliver reliable electricity from variable renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, electrical power systems must be flexible. Most electrical grids were constructed for non-intermittent energy sources such as coal-fired power plants. The integration of larger amounts of solar and wind energy into

2002-404: Is linked to the sharing economy . There is a debate regarding the correlation of economic growth and emissions. It seems economic growth no longer necessarily means higher emissions. Global primary energy demand exceeded 161,000 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2018. This refers to electricity, transport and heating including all losses. In transport and electricity production, fossil fuel usage has

2079-652: Is more to blame for climate change than population increase. High-consumption lifestyles have a greater environmental impact, with the richest 10% of people emitting about half the total lifestyle emissions. Some scientists say that avoiding meat and dairy foods is the single biggest way an individual can reduce their environmental impact. The widespread adoption of a vegetarian diet could cut food-related greenhouse gas emissions by 63% by 2050. China introduced new dietary guidelines in 2016 which aim to cut meat consumption by 50% and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1   Gt per year by 2030. Overall, food accounts for

2156-530: Is now a political solution to the problem of fluorinated gases from refrigerants . This is because many countries have ratified the Kigali Amendment . Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is the dominant emitted greenhouse gas. Methane ( CH 4 ) emissions almost have the same short-term impact. Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and fluorinated gases (F-Gases) play a minor role. Livestock and manure produce 5.8% of all greenhouse gas emissions. But this depends on

2233-881: Is now the home of the Nature-Based Infrastructure Global Resource Centre, established in 2021 jointly with the Global Environment Facility , the MAVA Foundation, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) . The Act Together and Engage pillars cut across IISD's various programs of work and are also the primary focus of IISD's Tracking Progress team. Tracking Progress works on supporting communities, domestic policymakers, and international decision-makers in their efforts towards

2310-803: Is organized around responsible agricultural investment and trade. Among other projects, IISD is one of the partners supporting the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Network of Parliamentarians on Gender Equality and Investments in Agriculture and Food Security, together with Oxfam , the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) , and Women in Law & Development in Africa (WiLDAF) . IISD has also partnered with

2387-416: Is overcoming environmental objections when constructing new clean energy sources and making grid modifications. Climate change mitigation aims to sustain ecosystems to maintain human civilisation . This requires drastic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions . The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines mitigation (of climate change) as "a human intervention to reduce emissions or enhance

Glasgow Statement - Misplaced Pages Continue

2464-750: Is part of the Geneva Environment Network and Think Sustainable Europe. IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) is a natural laboratory consisting of 58 small lakes and their watersheds set aside for scientific research. By manipulating these small lakes, scientists are able to examine how all aspects of the ecosystem—from the atmosphere to fish populations—respond. Findings from these real-world experiments are often much more accurate than those from research conducted at smaller scales, such as in laboratories. These findings are used to inform policy outreach and are regularly published in top-tier science journals, including Nature . Opened in 1968,

2541-488: Is possible to shift energy demand in time. Energy demand management and the use of smart grids make it possible to match the times when variable energy production is highest. Sector coupling can provide further flexibility. This involves coupling the electricity sector to the heat and mobility sector via power-to-heat -systems and electric vehicles. Energy storage helps overcome barriers to intermittent renewable energy. The most commonly used and available storage method

2618-716: Is the first international political commitment to address public finance for oil and gas, and has been called "arguably one of the most concrete achievements of the COP26 summit." The signatories include some of the largest historic providers of international fossil fuel public finance, including Canada, Germany, Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. In 2022, the International Institute for Sustainable Development estimated that if

2695-509: Is the process of reducing the amount of energy required to provide products and services. Improved energy efficiency in buildings ("green buildings"), industrial processes and transportation could reduce the world's energy needs in 2050 by one third. This would help reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases. For example, insulating a building allows it to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain thermal comfort. Improvements in energy efficiency are generally achieved by adopting

2772-622: Is undertaken primarily by IISD's Energy program, which helps governments as they embark on energy policy reforms towards achieving a just transition to net-zero economies by 2050, including through the increased uptake of renewable energy sources and the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies . IISD's Energy program is also home to the Global Subsidies Initiative, which provides data, research, and insights into reforming fossil fuel subsidies and fisheries subsidies. As part of IISD's work under its Climate pillar, IISD will serve as

2849-681: Is variable and can require electrical grid upgrades, such as using long-distance electricity transmission to group a range of power sources. Energy storage can also be used to even out power output, and demand management can limit power use when power generation is low. Cleanly generated electricity can usually replace fossil fuels for powering transportation, heating buildings, and running industrial processes. Certain processes are more difficult to decarbonise, such as air travel and cement production . Carbon capture and storage (CCS) can be an option to reduce net emissions in these circumstances, although fossil fuel power plants with CCS technology

2926-566: The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Cornell University on research to determine the costs of ending hunger sustainably by 2030 and the policy interventions that could support meeting that objective, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 2. In addition, IISD's agriculture team advises governments on laws, contracts, policies, and legal frameworks for agricultural investment. IISD's work on mining, in addition to its role as

3003-616: The greenhouse effect . This contributes to climate change . Most is carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels : coal, oil, and natural gas. Human-caused emissions have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide by about 50% over pre-industrial levels. Emissions in the 2010s averaged a record 56 billion tons (Gt) a year. In 2016, energy for electricity, heat and transport was responsible for 73.2% of GHG emissions. Direct industrial processes accounted for 5.2%, waste for 3.2% and agriculture, forestry and land use for 18.4%. Electricity generation and transport are major emitters. The largest single source

3080-827: The sinks of greenhouse gases ". It is possible to approach various mitigation measures in parallel. This is because there is no single pathway to limit global warming to 1.5 or 2 °C. There are four types of measures: The IPCC defined carbon dioxide removal as "Anthropogenic activities removing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the atmosphere and durably storing it in geological, terrestrial, or ocean reservoirs, or in products. It includes existing and potential anthropogenic enhancement of biological or geochemical CO 2 sinks and direct air carbon dioxide capture and storage (DACCS), but excludes natural CO 2 uptake not directly caused by human activities." While solar radiation modification (SRM) could reduce surface temperatures, it temporarily masks climate change rather than addressing

3157-569: The 1990s. A different technology is concentrated solar power (CSP). This uses mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight on to a receiver. With CSP, the energy can be stored for a few hours. This provides supply in the evening. Solar water heating doubled between 2010 and 2019. Regions in the higher northern and southern latitudes have the greatest potential for wind power. Offshore wind farms are more expensive. But offshore units deliver more energy per installed capacity with less fluctuations. In most regions, wind power generation

Glasgow Statement - Misplaced Pages Continue

3234-405: The 2022 IPCC report on mitigation. The abbreviation stands for "agriculture, forestry and other land use" The report described the economic mitigation potential from relevant activities around forests and ecosystems as follows: "the conservation, improved management, and restoration of forests and other ecosystems (coastal wetlands, peatlands , savannas and grasslands)". A high mitigation potential

3311-742: The Experimental Lakes Area was previously operated by the Canadian federal government. IISD took over operation of the Experimental Lakes Area in 2014 after signing agreements with the Canadian federal government and the government of Ontario. The site was subsequently renamed IISD-ELA. IISD hosts the Secretariat for the NAP Global Network, which was initiated by adaptation policy-makers and practitioners from 11 developing and developed countries in December 2014 during

3388-502: The Glasgow Statement signatories all met their commitments, then collectively the Glasgow Statement would shift almost $ 28 billion per year from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The American writer Rebecca Solnit listed the Glasgow Statement as a victory for campaigners in her 2023 book, Not Too Late, in a chapter called "An Incomplete List of Climate Victories." International Institute for Sustainable Development The International Institute for Sustainable Development ( IISD )

3465-668: The Tracking Progress program, IISD is the co-convener of the Geneva 2030 Ecosystem, together with the SDG Lab led by UN Geneva[xv] ( the United Nations Office at Geneva ). The Geneva 2030 Ecosystem works to establish partnerships and encourage joint research and outreach among different organizations in Geneva working on the Sustainable Development Goals. IISD is also a member of several international networks working on environmental issues. Its European office

3542-655: The ability of oceans and land sinks to absorb these gases. Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) persist in the atmosphere for a period ranging from days to 15 years. Carbon dioxide can remain in the atmosphere for millennia. Short-lived climate pollutants include methane , hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) , tropospheric ozone and black carbon . Scientists increasingly use satellites to locate and measure greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. Earlier, scientists largely relied on or calculated estimates of greenhouse gas emissions and governments' self-reported data. The annual "Emissions Gap Report" by UNEP stated in 2022 that it

3619-541: The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Tracking Progress program undertakes research on global environmental governance and is the home of IISD's Reporting Services work, including Earth Negotiations Bulletin and the SDG Knowledge Hub. The program also works with communities on establishing “Tracking-Progress” sites to monitor their advances towards fulfilling sustainability targets, linked to indicators for assessing community wellbeing. Through

3696-478: The advantages of switching away from coal. The technology to curb methane leaks is widely available but it is not always used. Reducing demand for products and services that cause greenhouse gas emissions can help in mitigating climate change. One is to reduce demand by behavioural and cultural changes , for example by making changes in diet, especially the decision to reduce meat consumption, an effective action individuals take to fight climate change . Another

3773-481: The aim of enhancing their effectiveness as tools for sustainable development. Climate change mitigation Climate change mitigation (or decarbonisation ) is action to limit the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that cause climate change . Climate change mitigation actions include conserving energy and replacing fossil fuels with clean energy sources . Secondary mitigation strategies include changes to land use and removing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from

3850-569: The arts can support effective climate adaptation action; and how governments can address climate change mitigation and adaptation in tandem, rather than separately. Through the Resilience program, IISD is the secretariat of the NAP Global Network. IISD's Resources work covers three main areas: the economic sectors of mining and agriculture, which also fall under the Economies' pillar of CREATE, and freshwater health. IISD's work on agriculture

3927-421: The atmosphere. Current climate change mitigation policies are insufficient as they would still result in global warming of about 2.7 °C by 2100, significantly above the 2015 Paris Agreement 's goal of limiting global warming to below 2 °C. Solar energy and wind power can replace fossil fuels at the lowest cost compared to other renewable energy options. The availability of sunshine and wind

SECTION 50

#1732764850309

4004-478: The competitiveness of renewable energy. Wind and sun can provide large amounts of low-carbon energy at competitive production costs. The IPCC estimates that these two mitigation options have the largest potential to reduce emissions before 2030 at low cost. Solar photovoltaics (PV) has become the cheapest way to generate electricity in many regions of the world. The growth of photovoltaics has been close to exponential. It has about doubled every three years since

4081-425: The emissions of wind or nuclear energy but are much less than coal. Burning natural gas produces around half the emissions of coal when used to generate electricity and around two-thirds the emissions of coal when used to produce heat. Natural gas combustion also produces less air pollution than coal. However, natural gas is a potent greenhouse gas in itself, and leaks during extraction and transportation can negate

4158-494: The first permanent secretariat of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA). IISD has a 15-member board, chaired by Michelle Edkins, Managing Director at BlackRock. IISD's founding board chair is Lloyd McGinnis. President and CEO of IISD is Patricia Full (2024–present). IISD's vision is “a world where people and the planet thrive.” The Institute works with intergovernmental organizations, governments, academic institutions,

4235-741: The first permanent secretariat of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA). This initiative was announced by a dozen national and sub-national governments at the United Nations Climate Conference in Glasgow in November 2021 and has the objective of phasing out oil and gas production. The work on climate change adaptation is undertaken by IISD's Resilience program, which works on advising policymakers on how to improve their countries’ resilience to climate-related risks and adapt to climate change impacts. The Resilience program also works on environment, conflict, and peacebuilding; how

4312-509: The grid requires a change of the energy system; this is necessary to ensure that the supply of electricity matches demand. There are various ways to make the electricity system more flexible. In many places, wind and solar generation are complementary on a daily and a seasonal scale. There is more wind during the night and in winter when solar energy production is low. Linking different geographical regions through long-distance transmission lines also makes it possible to reduce variability. It

4389-679: The health of our global freshwater supplies. Through its Water program, IISD is the home of the IISD Experimental Lakes Area, based in Kenora, Ontario . Since 2020, IISD has partnered with the African Center for Aquatic Research and Education to look at how to address environmental challenges affecting the African Great Lakes . IISD's Economies work seeks to provide policymakers and others involved in

4466-888: The home of Earth Negotiations Bulletin , a news reporting service on global environmental and development negotiations. In 2016, IISD launched the SDG Knowledge Hub, a dedicated site providing news updates, commentary, analysis, calendars, and guest articles on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals . As of 2022, the Institute's daily work is currently structured around the CREATE framework, which will guide its work through 2025. This framework's pillars are Climate, Resources, Economies, Act Together, and Engage. These pillars are put into practice through IISD's five programs: Economic Law and Policy, Energy, Resilience, Tracking Progress, and Water. Over

4543-576: The host of the IGF Secretariat as of October 2015. The current Director of the IGF is Greg Radford, who was appointed to the post in 2016. The IGF has over 80 members and holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) every year to gather government officials and representatives from industry, academia, civil society, non-governmental, and international organizations for several days of sessions focused on mining governance and sustainable development. The AGM

4620-529: The host of the IGF secretariat, includes research, analysis, and training on tax base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) and what it means for resource-rich developing countries and their tax revenues from the mining sector. Among other areas, this work covers the recent agreement for a global minimum tax , looking at its overall and sector-specific impacts for developing countries. IISD's work on freshwater takes place under its Water program, which undertakes scientific research and policy outreach on how to improve

4697-402: The large-scale use of carbon dioxide removal methods over the 21st century. There are concerns about over-reliance on these technologies, and their environmental impacts. But ecosystem restoration and reduced conversion are among the mitigation tools that can yield the most emissions reductions before 2030. Land-based mitigation options are referred to as "AFOLU mitigation options" in

SECTION 60

#1732764850309

4774-428: The largest share of consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions. It is responsible for nearly 20% of the global carbon footprint. Almost 15% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions have been attributed to the livestock sector. A shift towards plant-based diets would help to mitigate climate change. In particular, reducing meat consumption would help to reduce methane emissions. If high-income nations switched to

4851-655: The meeting noted those countries represent six of the top 15 methane emitters globally. Israel also joined the initiative. The energy system includes the delivery and use of energy. It is the main emitter of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). Rapid and deep reductions in the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector are necessary to limit global warming to well below 2 °C. IPCC recommendations include reducing fossil fuel consumption, increasing production from low- and zero carbon energy sources, and increasing use of electricity and alternative energy carriers. Nearly all scenarios and strategies involve

4928-495: The other hand, environmental and security risks could outweigh the benefits. The construction of new nuclear reactors currently takes about 10 years. This is much longer than scaling up the deployment of wind and solar. And this timing gives rise to credit risks. However nuclear may be much cheaper in China. China is building a significant number of new power plants. As of 2019 the cost of extending nuclear power plant lifetimes

5005-846: The past decade, IISD has expanded its programmatic work to include serving as the secretariat of several intergovernmental forums, networks, and alliances. These include the Intergovernmental Forum (IGF) on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network. IISD manages the Secretariat International Support Office (SISO) for the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED). On November 11, 2021, IISD announced that it would be

5082-512: The pledges for 2030. The rise would be 2.1 °C with the achievement of the long-term targets too. Full achievement of all announced targets would mean the rise in global temperature will peak at 1.9 °C and go down to 1.8 °C by the year 2100. Experts gather information about climate pledges in the Global Climate Action Portal - Nazca . The scientific community is checking their fulfilment. There has not been

5159-425: The policy process with the research, analysis, news reporting, and training to help them craft laws, policies, and frameworks for fair, sustainable economies. The topics that IISD's Economies work covers include trade law and policy, international investment law and policy, international taxation law and policy, and sustainable infrastructure finance and procurement. Through its work on sustainable infrastructure, IISD

5236-687: The private sector, and civil society organizations around the world. This collaboration includes developing new research, conducting news reporting and analysis, providing technical assistance and capacity-building support, and convening workshops and other knowledge-sharing events. To achieve that vision, IISD has structured its work around a framework called CREATE, which underpins the organization's current strategic plan through 2025. The pillars of CREATE are Climate, Resources, Economies, Act Together, and Engage. IISD's Climate work addresses two overarching pillars: climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation . The work on climate change mitigation

5313-456: The root cause, which is greenhouse gases. SRM would work by altering how much solar radiation the Earth absorbs. Examples include reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the surface, reducing the optical thickness and lifetime of clouds, and changing the ability of the surface to reflect radiation. The IPCC describes SRM as a climate risk reduction strategy or supplementary option rather than

5390-437: The same service. Another way is to reduce the amount of service used. An example of this would be to drive less. Energy conservation is at the top of the sustainable energy hierarchy . When consumers reduce wastage and losses they can conserve energy. The upgrading of technology as well as the improvements to operations and maintenance can result in overall efficiency improvements. Efficient energy use (or energy efficiency )

5467-849: The slow carbon cycle. Methane is a short lived greenhouse gas that is produced by decaying organic matter and livestock, as well as fossil fuel extraction. Land use changes can also impact precipitation patterns and the reflectivity of the surface of the Earth . It is possible to cut emissions from agriculture by reducing food waste , switching to a more plant-based diet (also referred to as low-carbon diet ), and by improving farming processes. Various policies can encourage climate change mitigation. Carbon pricing systems have been set up that either tax CO 2 emissions or cap total emissions and trade emission credits . Fossil fuel subsidies can be eliminated in favor of clean energy subsidies , and incentives offered for installing energy efficiency measures or switching to electric power sources. Another issue

5544-408: The stage for the post-2030 discussion. The State of Sustainability Initiatives (SSI) provides in-depth research and advisory services to support sustainable production and consumption, with a focus on agricultural commodity sectors. It does this by examining the characteristics and performance of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) such as Fairtrade , Rainforest Alliance , and UTZ , with

5621-542: The time frame used to calculate the global warming potential of the respective gas. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are measured in CO 2 equivalents . Scientists determine their CO 2 equivalents from their global warming potential (GWP). This depends on their lifetime in the atmosphere. There are widely used greenhouse gas accounting methods that convert volumes of methane, nitrous oxide and other greenhouse gases to carbon dioxide equivalents . Estimates largely depend on

5698-401: The tropics, where clearing of land for agriculture is one of the main causes. One forest conservation strategy is to transfer rights over land from public ownership to its indigenous inhabitants. Land concessions often go to powerful extractive companies. Conservation strategies that exclude and even evict humans, called fortress conservation , often lead to more exploitation of the land. This

5775-527: The words of Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres : "Main emitters must drastically cut emissions starting this year". Climate Action Tracker described the situation on 9 November 2021 as follows. The global temperature will rise by 2.7 °C by the end of the century with current policies and by 2.9 °C with nationally adopted policies. The temperature will rise by 2.4 °C if countries only implement

5852-481: The world should focus on broad-based economy-wide transformations and not incremental change. In 2022, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Sixth Assessment Report on climate change. It warned that greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 at the latest and decline 43% by 2030 to have a good chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F). Or in

5929-399: Was necessary to almost halve emissions. "To get on track for limiting global warming to 1.5°C, global annual GHG emissions must be reduced by 45 per cent compared with emissions projections under policies currently in place in just eight years, and they must continue to decline rapidly after 2030, to avoid exhausting the limited remaining atmospheric carbon budget ." The report commented that

#308691