Major Countries in UNEP: What is Everyone Doing?
The United Nations (UN) is where the most viable solutions to the world's most pressing issues are discussed, debated, formulated, and enacted. With six committees, the UN focuses on solving issues that have a global reach. One such committee is the Environmental Protection Committee (UNEP), which aims to solves the issues of global warming and climate change. Many countries participate in this committee, and in this article I will highlight some of the ideas that some of these participating countries have enacted to try and solve climate change.
United States
The US is in many ways a leader in the fight against climate change. Here are 7 things the US has done to confront the climate crisis within their own country:
Established ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: All states that join the Alliance agree to implement policies that advance the goals of the Paris Agreement
Signed legislation that ramps up renewable energy: states in the alliance are accelerating the green economy.
Pushed for better energy efficiency: Homes and commercial buildings account for 40% of total energy use in the U.S., which makes energy efficiency a crucial part of any state’s plan to mitigate climate change.
Accelerated policies for Zero Emission Vehicles: Alliance states lead the nation in reducing passenger vehicle emissions, the largest source of emissions in the transportation sector
Proposed regulations to cut harmful air pollutants: Although pollution from carbon dioxide receives the most attention, short-lived climate pollutants, such as black carbon, methane, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), also pose key challenges to climate and health.
Created new financing opportunities for clean energy and resilient communities: Governor Charlie Baker (Massachusetts) signed bipartisan legislation to authorize over $2.4 billion in investments for safeguarding residents, municipalities, and businesses from the impacts of climate change, as well as protecting environmental resources and improving recreational opportunities.
Developed special tools and resources to help the state address climate change
United Kingdom
Britain's Climate Change Act was the first legally binding national commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (2008). This act, while it is old, still is in effect today, with its sights set on a goal in 2032. It requires governments to set legally binding carbon budgets, where each budget provides a five year cap on total greenhouse emissions.
In the UK, measures on climate change can be divided between measures to cut carbon emissions and promote cleaner alternative energy options. After Brexit, the UK entered its own, UK-only Emission Trading Scheme (ETS). This applies the major policy for reducing emissions to energy-intensive sectors like power generations, steel, chemicals, and ceramics.
Action on climate change can be divided between measures to cut carbon emissions and promote cleaner alternatives in energy supply; to support energy efficiency; drive corporate reporting of carbon emissions; and support climate action overseas.
Energy policy measures that apply for the whole UK:
Carbon Pricing - penalizes emissions from burning fossil fuels
Low Carbon Energy Support - Increasing renewable energy production is one fundamental way that will allow the UK to meet its binding net zero target by 2050
Energy Efficiency
International Climate Action - Britain has played an active part in UN negotiations and contributes climate finance to vulnerable nations (Paris 2015)
Mexico
As of February 2020, Mexico launched a national strategy to reduce short-lived climate pollutants for climate change, air quality, and human health. The strategy outlines concrete actions to reduce black carbon and methane, which are some of the lesser known causes of climate change. It is believed that by implementing the strategy, Mexico's climate change goal to reduce black carbon emissions by 51% by 2030 will be achieved.
Every country's situation is different and Mexico was hit hard by the pandemic. Due to its lack of resources, it was unable to properly respond to the crisis, which is why not much has been done my Mexico recently towards providing solutions to climate change.
Russia
Climate change in Russia has had serious effects on their climate characteristics. This includes average temperatures and precipitation, as well as permafrost melting, increased occurrence of wildfires, flooding, and erosion.
In late March 2020, Russia presented a long-term solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. They agreed on the aims and goals of the Paris Agreement in 2016, meaning that the rise in global average temperature should be kept below 2 degrees Celsius.
China
China is the world's leader in electricity production from renewable energy sources. With over double the generation of the US, China deserves its title. By the end of 2019, China had a total capacity of 790 GW of renewable power from mainly hydroelectric, solar, and wind power. By the end of 2019, China's hydropower capacity reached 356 GW.
China's renewable energy sector is growing faster than its fossil fuels and nuclear power capacity. China has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. By 2030, China aims to lower CO@ emissions by 65% from the level they had in 2005. They also want to raise the share of non-fossil energy to 25%
France
France has done a lot for climate change, and most notably -as has been referenced many times in this article already- have been the birthplace of the Paris Agreement at their summit in 2015.
These are just some of the biggest players in the UNEP committee and while it is easy to think that these are the only countries that have made sizable contributions to the effort to reduce climate change, many smaller countries have as well. This includes Germany, Denmark, and Sweden to name a few. The UN is far from a complete solution that will encompass the needs of all countries, while still being able to fully deal with climate change, so it is up to us to continue the fight and do our part to help our environment.