Portsmouth Climate Action Network

If we are keep average temperature rises to 2°C by ensuring that CO2 emissions peak by 2015 and then fall by 80% by 2050 then we (being the whole world) are going to have to act NOW.

At PCAN our primary concern is that there should be local action on climate change. However as the whole world needs to act in concert very quickly we think it is important to show you where our mission fit’s into a wider national and global picture. Otherwise it doesn’t really make sense. After all we believe that local can influence global…

Global action – the Kyoto Protocol

World governments made a start on this back in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit. A United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) was signed by 154 nations including the UK, United States, Russia and China. The signatories agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (including CO2) with a base date of 1990.There followed much negotiation and no little prevarication…

More scientific evidence then prompted nations to keep going on this theme and thus was born the the Kyoto Protocol, an amendment to the UNFCC. It became law in February 2005 and was based on the principles set out in 1992.

A total of 175 countries and governmental entities are currently signatories including the EU block. Whilst some notable emitters have not ratified the treaty (e.g. United States, Australia) there is growing international pressure for collective action. The protocol ratifiers (those willing to be bound) have to account for a minimum of 55% of worldwide emissions for it to be implemented. Russia agreeing to join the treaty in 2004 tipped the balance.

Although the United States, which accounts for approximately 25% of emissions, refused to ratify the treaty fearing damage to their economy a number of individual American states have signed the treaty or made similar commitments.

Crucially negotiations take place in December 2007 for the renewal of Kyoto beyond 2012. The replacement framework needs to be agreed by the end of 2009 to allow time for member ratification and transition. The new framework needs to include avaiation and shipping emissions which are both excluded at present but are fast growing.

How does Kyoto work?

Kyoto  sets targets for the maximum amount of greenhouse gases that pollution rich countries can produce. It also sets limits by which the emissions of developing countries can rise.
Each signatory has a target for emissions that it is legally obliged to meet by 2012. This kicks in from 2008-12 and the intention is that countries trade credits/debits (along the lines of the over-polluter pays). Countries are also able to gain credits for activities that boost the environment's capacity to absorb carbon (carbon sinks).

A precurser of trading scheme is the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme. More on this later…
The basic idea is that developed countries instigate bigger cuts in emissions in the short term having regard for the need to allow poorer countries to grow their economies. Richer countries are better placed to instigate new green technologies (e.g. energy derived fron non-fossil fuel sources) and assist the spread of these to developing countries.

Globally, the protocol aims to achieve a 5.2% reduction in the 1990 level of greenhouse gas emissions by 2012.

The EU has a collective Kyoto target of getting greenhouse gas emissions 8% below 1990 levels, by 2012.

The UK has a target of getting greenhouse gas emissions 12.5% below 1990 levels, by 2012.

Want to know more about Kyoto? Click here

Want to know the latest stances of different nations? Click here

Is Kyoto working?

Er yes and no…

According to UN statistics some countries such as the UK, France and Sweden are on course to meet their Kyoto targets for greenhouse gases (but not necessarily CO2 – more later). However other countries such as Spain, Portugal and Ireland are making no progress. Overall there is some doubt as to whether the EU will meet its 8% target.

Globally it is possible that the 5.2% target will be met. However much is this is due to significant reductions in the former Soviet bloc following the collapse of state economies ( which may partly explain why Russia joined).

There is much concern about rising emissions in China and India. For instance China is predicted to overtake the United States as the biggest single emitter of CO2 (the biggest greenhouse gas) by the end of 2007.

Many climate scientists say that the targets set in the Kyoto Protocol are merely scratching the surface of the problem because the emissions targets are so low. However Kyoto presents a framework for action that was a decade in the making. We have less than a decade to make serious reductions so it is up to the people of all nations to persuade their governments that the targets beyond 2012 must be much tougher.

Why the next 4 months are so critical globally

So far world governments have failed to take sufficient action to avoid exceeding this 2°C limit.

In effect there are two camps in the international arena.

In the blue corner – those who have been a party to Kyoto and are on the verge of taking it to the next level (this includes the UK) later this year.

In the red corner – what has been nicknamed the “Axis of Global Warming” which includes such luminaries as George Bush and the Australian premier John Howard. George Bush announced at the recent G8 meeting that he is drawing up his own alternative to Kyoto and it is possible that he is trying to persuade so-called “swing countries” like Japan and Canada to join his camp.

In early September Australia hosted a summit of 21 Pacific Rim countries including the US, China, Japan, Russia and Canada at which leaders made a declaration about energy efficiency and the preservation of forests. However this declaration carried no binding targets on CO2 reduction and has only voluntary targets. It did however contain hints that those nations appreciate the importance of a post 2012 world agreement on climate change mitigation. You can read the declaration here.

On 24 September the UN hosted a special high-level session on climate change, attended by representatives from 150 countries. The talks were intended to build momentum ahead of the December conference in Bali (see below). Later the same week George Bush hosted a “Major Emitter” conference in Washington in what was seen as a diversionary tactic.The conference was attended by more than 20 countries. John Ashton, the UK's special envoy on climate change attended the conference and subsequently said: "It is striking here how isolated the US has become on this issue."

In December the UN-led negotiations begin in Bali for a replacement for Kyoto beyond 2012. This is the big one and it is generally viewed that George Bush’s recent actions have been designed to undermine this initiative.

European Union Action

Kyoto

The EU is estimated to be responsible for approximately one third of global emissions – so that’s a good starting point for positive action.
In March 2007 the EU resolved to achieve at least a 20% reduction of greenhouse gases (against 1990 levels) and confirmed an objective to achieve a 30% cut by 2020 as it’s contribution to a comprehensive post-2012 worldwide agreement.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

As promised…more on this.

Each Kyoto signatory has an emissions target it is legally obliged to meet by 2012. Any country struggling to fulfil its obligations may have to buy credits from another that is on track to meet its target with room to spare.

The initial scheme was for the period 2005-7 but has not been successful due to member states handing out too many carbon permits to their own polluting industries such that the market value of one tonne of carbon fell from 30 euros to less than 7 euros.

It is hoped that phase 2, which will run from 2008-12 to coincide with the first Kyoto commitment period will be more robust and that the resultant higher tariff will encourage big polluters to reduce emissions or fund clean energy projects. Already the World Bank forecasts demand exceeding supply and the current phase carbon price is around 20 euros.

UK Government action

Kyoto

In 2005 UK greenhouse gas emissions were 15.3% below base year levels against a target of 12.5% by 2012. Thus the UK is on target.

However…

In 1997, the UK committed itself to go beyond its Kyoto  target by setting a national goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (the main greenhouse gas – about 84%)) by 20% below 1990 levels by 2010. Furthermore in 2003, the Energy White Paper adopted a longer term goal to put the UK on a path to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by some 60% by 2050, with real progress by 2020.

The reality is that CO2 emissions have only fallen by 6.4% below 1990 levels and in 2005 the change was as best negligible. Therefore the reduction will have to be at least 3%pa until 2010. The 2006 figure will be published in January 2008 and is estimated to be a 1% rise in emissions. We will keep you posted.

Like statistics? Well take a look at all the figures on DEFRA’s website by clicking here

Following sustained pressure over many years from environmental groups the UK government has committed to introducing a climate change bill to set legally binding limits for emissions in the UK.This could be a world first and it seems equitable that as a major beneficiary from the industrial revolution the UK should be taking a lead in the clean energy revolution. However the Bill may be undermined if Kyoto is not replaced with another strong treaty at a global level.

We strongly recommend that you read more about this bill at our page Climate Change Bill

EU Renewables Directive

The Directive is in support of renewable fuels such as wind, solar, wave power that will help us reduce emissions amongst other things (e.g. security of supply). The Directive requires each country to commit to specific targets for renewable energy that are consistent with reaching the Commission’s target of 22 per cent of electricity from renewables by 2010.

The indicative target that the proposal sets for the UK is 10 per cent of electricity by 2010.

The UK is one of the best locations in Europe for wind and tidal power generation and yet the UK to date has only achieved 2%. A leaked civil servant draft memo implies that maybe the Government is trying to wriggle out of their obligation. Click here to see the memo and decide for yourself.

Don’t just take our word for it on the UK record

The August 2007 edition of UK Energy and the Environment produced by the independent think-tank Cambridge Econometrics makes the following predictions:

• The Government will miss it’s 2010 and 2015 renewable energy targets by wide margins, achieving only 5% in 2010 compared with a target of 10% and 12.5% by 2015 compared with a target of 15%.
• The Government will miss its carbon emissions reduction target of 20% by 2010, reaching only 12.8%

To read the whole report click here

Local Authority action

The 2006 government White paper “Strong & Prosperous Communities” emphasised the need for local authorities, as community leaders, to take the initiative on climate change. The paper highlighted the following:

“Local Government has a pivotal role in achieving sustainable development and mitigating and adapting to climate change”

 

“Local government has a role, not just in the way authorities run their own estates and services, but as leaders of their communities. They can reflect the issue in Sustainable Community Strategies…and engage and mobilise business, industry, communities and individuals to address the issue in the workplace and at home.”

 

“Robust new overview and scrutiny arrangements will also allow local communities to hold local government to account for their action, or inaction”

 

“ Where appropriate climate change targets will be incorporated into Local Area Agreements (LAAs)”

Want to know more about Sustainable Community Strategies and Local Area Agreements? There will be more on this soon.

To support this White Paper initiative the Local Government Association (LGA) has established a Climate Change Commission. Through this the LGA is seeking to challenge councils and stakeholders to consider how local leadership can drive change in both climate change adaptation and mitigation.

In 2008 action on climate change mitigation/adaptation/education will become a key performance indicator (KPI) for local authorities. Thus performance in this area should influence the level of future government funding – and ultimately have a bearing on how effectively your council tax is spent.

The new "performance indicator set" for local authorities and local authority partnerships was announced as part of the Chancellor's Comprehensive Spending Review announcement on Tuesday 9 October. In each area, targets against the set of national indicators will be negotiated through new Local Area Agreements (LAAs). Each Agreement will include up to 35 targets from among the national indicators. Those indicators most applicable to climate change are:

• NI 185 CO2 reduction from Local Authority operations PSA 27
• NI 186 Per capita CO2 emissions in the LA area PSA 27
• NI 187 Tackling fuel poverty – people receiving income based benefits living in homes with a low energy efficiency rating Defra DSO
• NI 188 Adapting to climate change PSA 27
• NI 189 Flood and coastal erosion risk management Defra DSO

The government will shortly consult on the technical definitions of the indicators, giving stakeholders an opportunity to give views on the methodology, frequency of reporting, and data sources of each individual indicator.

Importantly those local authorities that have taken the lead on climate change have already discovered that energy bills within their own estate can be significantly reduced. This fact alone should be a pretty compelling argument for addressing climate change.

What is  Portsmouth doing?

Portsmouth City Council's track record on climate change is not good. Click here for the background.

Read that? OK well let's look forward. You can read more about what the future may hold on our PSAG page.