Press Articles

Title: Ambition of only two developed countries sufficiently stringent for 2°C
Date: 04-Feb-2010
Category: General
Source/Author: Climate Action Tracker
Description: Only two out of 10 developed countries' reduction targets submitted to the Copenhagen Accord qualify as 'sufficient' to keep global temperature rise below 2°C. The reduction targets of all countries currently associated with the Accord lead to a striking inconsistency with the 2°C goal defined in the very same Accord. The current pledges leave the world heading for a global warming of over 3°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100.

Only two out of 10 developed countries' reduction targets submitted to the Copenhagen Accord qualify as 'sufficient' to keep global temperature rise below 2°C. The reduction targets of all countries currently associated with the Accord lead to a striking inconsistency with the 2°C goal defined in the very same Accord. The current pledges leave the world heading for a global warming of over 3°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100. The ambition level of the major countries as submitted for the Copenhagen Accord has not changed compared to the level proposed in December in Copenhagen. Of the developed countries Russia slightly increased its ambition level, Canada decreased its ambition level, while Kazakhstan proposed a reduction target for the first time. Of the developing countries, no major countries changed their proposals. Mexico, the host country for the next climate summit in November this year, did not submit by 31 January 2010. Israel, Marshall Islands and Moldova proposed quantitative targets for the first time. The African countries Ethiopia, Jordan, Madagascar, Morocco, Congo and Sierra Leone provided qualitative information. This "Climate Action Tracker" is an independent science-based assessment, which tracks the emission commitments and actions of countries. The website provides an up-to-date assessment of individual national pledges to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

 

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