COP21: The Paris Deal
COP21 (21st Conference of Parties) held in Paris, France, comes 6 years after the previous climate conference in Copenhagen that ended in failure and acrimony. Most leaders and delegates at the beginning of this conference admitted that it would not be a walk in park to get countries to fulfil the pledge of giving priority to issues of combating climate change. However, the Paris deal seems to have rebuilt much of the trust that is required for a concerted global effort that would aid combat climate change. US president Barrack Obama stated that “this should not just be an agreement to reverse the pollution filling our skies, but it should be an agreement that would help lift people out of poverty without condemning the next generation to a planet that is beyond the capacity to repair”.
After 2 weeks of intense negotiations (from 30th November to 11th December 2015) at COP21, the Paris deal has been hailed as the world’s first true global climate deal. The accord commits both rich and poor nations to reigning in on rising global temperature and limiting it to less than 2 degrees preferably at 1.5 degrees for life on the planet to remain normal. It set out a long term goal of reducing the emission of greenhouse gases mainly carbon dioxide that are responsible for the rise in average global temperatures.
This conference took place amid record high global temperatures, drought and extreme weather patterns. We have scientists predicting that in 50 years if something is not done we will have much parts of a city like Mombasa and several other coastal areas submerged in water due to rise in sea level as a result of melting glaciers caused by global warming.
The Paris deal has created a system in which each nation is to suppose to come up with voluntary domestic efforts that would help curb emissions. This is a first from all the other pacts on climate change that have been signed before. This is a commitment that is at the core of the Paris deal. Already approximately 187 countries have submitted their detailed national climate action plans on how they will contain the rising green house gases emissions and steps they would take to cut their carbon emissions. Kenya submitted an eight page climate action plan which among other issues it touched on the need to increase use of renewable energy. As much as Kenya still is a small emitter of greenhouse gases there is a need for a shift towards use of renewable energy that is cheaper, clean and reliable. A 100 billion dollar kitty a year has also been developed to help poor nations cope with the transition into greener economies that would be powered by renewable energy. The target for this to be in place is the year 2020.
Kenya’s delegation, led by President Uhuru Kenyatta, was part of the team pushing for a reduction in carbon emissions and promotion of the use of green energy. The president stated that “Kenya’s INDC (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) is anchored on the country’s constitution, Vision 2030 and the National Climate Change Response Strategy and Action Plan, National Adaptation Plan as well as the National Climate Framework Policy and Bill”. Kenya’s focus has been both on litigation and adaptation. Being an African country, we bear the brunt of all the negative aspects of global warming and climate change therefore there is need for us to focus more on adaptation strategies. There is also need for funds to be availed towards adapting to increased flooding, increased drought, use of irrigation and adoption of climate smart agriculture.
If the action plan is implemented we will see a reversal in global warming which has left various communities in the world suffering from its adverse effects such as droughts, floods and rising sea waters. This accord will be reviewed every 5 years to ensure countries are living to their word.
After 2 weeks of intense negotiations (from 30th November to 11th December 2015) at COP21, the Paris deal has been hailed as the world’s first true global climate deal. The accord commits both rich and poor nations to reigning in on rising global temperature and limiting it to less than 2 degrees preferably at 1.5 degrees for life on the planet to remain normal. It set out a long term goal of reducing the emission of greenhouse gases mainly carbon dioxide that are responsible for the rise in average global temperatures.
This conference took place amid record high global temperatures, drought and extreme weather patterns. We have scientists predicting that in 50 years if something is not done we will have much parts of a city like Mombasa and several other coastal areas submerged in water due to rise in sea level as a result of melting glaciers caused by global warming.
The Paris deal has created a system in which each nation is to suppose to come up with voluntary domestic efforts that would help curb emissions. This is a first from all the other pacts on climate change that have been signed before. This is a commitment that is at the core of the Paris deal. Already approximately 187 countries have submitted their detailed national climate action plans on how they will contain the rising green house gases emissions and steps they would take to cut their carbon emissions. Kenya submitted an eight page climate action plan which among other issues it touched on the need to increase use of renewable energy. As much as Kenya still is a small emitter of greenhouse gases there is a need for a shift towards use of renewable energy that is cheaper, clean and reliable. A 100 billion dollar kitty a year has also been developed to help poor nations cope with the transition into greener economies that would be powered by renewable energy. The target for this to be in place is the year 2020.
Kenya’s delegation, led by President Uhuru Kenyatta, was part of the team pushing for a reduction in carbon emissions and promotion of the use of green energy. The president stated that “Kenya’s INDC (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) is anchored on the country’s constitution, Vision 2030 and the National Climate Change Response Strategy and Action Plan, National Adaptation Plan as well as the National Climate Framework Policy and Bill”. Kenya’s focus has been both on litigation and adaptation. Being an African country, we bear the brunt of all the negative aspects of global warming and climate change therefore there is need for us to focus more on adaptation strategies. There is also need for funds to be availed towards adapting to increased flooding, increased drought, use of irrigation and adoption of climate smart agriculture.
If the action plan is implemented we will see a reversal in global warming which has left various communities in the world suffering from its adverse effects such as droughts, floods and rising sea waters. This accord will be reviewed every 5 years to ensure countries are living to their word.
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