The US, South Africa, India and China have come to an international accord on climate change. The private deal falls far short of even the lowest expectations – it contains no detail on emission reduction targets by 2020 and is not legally binding.
The accord has been designed to save face for world leaders, not to save the planet.
It aims to limit warming to two degrees. But at two degrees many developing nations, including Australia’s Pacific neighbours, will still go under water. Moreover, just how warming will be limited to even two degrees has also remained unaccounted for.
Reflecting a stunning lack of transparency, the accord merely places X in the text in the place of actual 2020 emission reduction targets. This is despite the fact that the science demands emissions to peak by 2015 and rapidly fall thereafter to prevent dangerous and irreversible climate change.
The deal’s lack of adequate ambition was accepted by Obama himself when he said: “We know the targets will not by themselves get us where we need to be by 2050 but it’s a first step. The science dictates that even more needs to be done.”
In his press conference, President Obama said that he thought it was important to stand in the shoes of all parties – developed and developing countries. Yet this statement stands in stark contrast to the Obama’s actions in formulating a private deal with just four countries.
This accord is a step backwards, because it is not legally binding, it does not reflect climate change science, and it undermines the UN process. We need our leaders to step up, not step backwards.
