Climate Action: Not Just for the Major Economies
I wrote earlier this month about the growing momentum in our global efforts to combat climate change, with now more than 150 countries representing over 85% of all global emissions having reported their climate contributions — in documents called Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (or INDCs) — to the United Nations.
It’s worth focusing not just on the quantity of those submissions but on their quality and the diversity of countries from which they’ve come.
A lot of focus has been on major economies like the United States, China, the European Union, and India. This makes sense, as this group represents about half of all global emissions. But these countries will be far from the only ones at the table when we gather in Paris. Many smaller economies — island states, poor nations, and tropical countries are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
That’s one of the reasons the U.S. is committed to reaching an ambitious agreement in Paris — because all people, regardless of their national origin, deserve to live free from the threats of climate change. To that end, the U.S. is using all its tools to help other countries reduce carbon pollution, strengthen resilience and leverage public and private finance to avoid some of the most catastrophic risks of climate change. This includes providing grant-based assistance, development finance, and export credit to developing countries. In fact, in 2014, the U.S. provided developing countries with more than $2.5 billion in such funds. And importantly, it also includes an additional $3 billion pledge to the Green Climate Fund, and incorporating adaptation into all official development aid.
This leadership is spurring action from other countries. As part of his visit to the U.S. last month, President Xi of China pledged $3.1 billion in climate finance to support developing countries in their efforts to combat climate change and build resilience to its impacts. And according to the OECD, developed countries mobilized $62 billion of climate finance in 2014, well on the way to the 2020 goal of mobilizing $100 billion of climate finance from private and public sources annually.
These efforts are critical because we know that no country can avoid the impacts of climate change, and all countries must be part of the effort to fight it. Many smaller economies have stepped up to offer actions to address climate change, recognizing that measures like bolstering forests, cutting energy waste, and deploying renewables will both cut carbon pollution and drive economic development. Here are five examples of strong submissions to the UN from countries that are not major economies. Together, these plans show that, though we must take national circumstances into account, all countries can do their part in the global fight against climate change.
Bhutan: A small Southeast Asian country with a population under 1 million, Bhutan plans to remain carbon neutral into the extended future by limiting deforestation and developing a hydroelectric program to export electricity. Without global action on climate change, Bhutan’s tourist and agricultural-based economy faces an acute threat from climate change.
Chad: This central African country with a population under 12 million has experienced increased desertification in part due to climate change, forcing farmers and ranchers to relocate. In its INDC, Chad pledged to reduce emissions by more than 18 percent by 2030, relative to business as usual, with significant reductions in the agricultural and livestock sectors.
Ethiopia: Ethiopia has a population of just under 100 million, nearly 80 percent of whom depend on revenue from agriculture, one of the sectors most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In its INDC, Ethiopia announced that it intends to reduce its emissions by more than 60 percent by 2030, relative to business as usual. As part of the plan, Ethiopia will mitigate emissions from agriculture, forestry, transportation, electric power, industry, and buildings.
Guatemala: This Central American nation with a population just under 15 million people has already experienced increased extreme weather events like hurricanes, earthquakes, and a stronger rainy season, in part due to climate change. In its INDC, Guatemala pledged to reduce its emissions about 11 percent by 2030, relative to business as usual.
Marshall Islands: Almost all of the Marshall Islands’ 72,000 residents live within seven feet of sea level. If the climate continues to change at its current pace, ocean acidification could destroy its resources and rising oceans could flood large parts of the islands. In its INDC, the Marshall Islands announced that it intends to reduce its emissions by 32 percent by 2025, relative to 2010 levels, with a long-term vision of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 — accomplished in part through increased solar deployment
These five countries are not alone. There are dozens of others, whose INDCs you can read here, that are stepping up and outlining what they can do to combat climate change to protect their economies and future generations. President Obama’s message to these countries is clear — we want to work with you to grow your economies, fight climate change and leave a safer, healthier planet for your citizens.
We’ll be carrying that message with us on the road to Paris and beyond.
Related Stories:
