One sticking point ahead of global negotiations over the climate later this year is the contribution of developing countries like China, and whether they should agree to mandatory targets to reduce carbon emissions.
An analysis released Tuesday by the International Energy Agency showed that China could slow the growth of its emissions at a much faster pace than was commonly assumed because of its huge investment in wind and nuclear energy and its emphasis on energy efficiency. The reportalso points out that the global downturn is offering a unique opportunity to tackle climate change.
As a result of slower economic activity, global carbon emissions from energy is expected to decline as much as 3 percent in 2009, the steepest drop in the 45 years that data has been compiled by the agency. That compares with an average growth of 3 percent a year over the last decade, and means that global emissions will be 5 percent lower in 2020, even in the absence of new policies, than the agency estimated last year.
The agency stressed, however, that limiting the rise in global temperatures would require significant and rapid investments in clean technology. An “energy and environmental revolution” is needed to achieve meaningful cuts in carbon emissions and avoid some of the worst consequences of climate change, the International Energy Agency said.
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