Page 5 - AsiaElec Week 49
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AsiaElec COMMENTARY AsiaElec
3% of GDP, to low-carbon measures. emissions. These areas require urgent attention,
This is not enough, the report found. There with still not enough being done to promote
remains a significant opportunity for countries decarbonisation.
to implement green policies and programmes. Improvements in technology and opera-
Governments must take this opportunity in the tions can improve fuel efficiency, but projected
next stage of COVID-19 fiscal interventions to increases in demand mean this will not result
boost spending beyond these levels. in decarbonisation and absolute reductions of
However, there is good news. The report CO2. Both sectors need to combine energy effi-
found that the growing number of countries ciency with a rapid transition away from fossil
committing to net-zero emissions goals by fuel, the report finds.
mid-century is a “significant and encouraging The report finds that stronger climate action
development.” must include changes in consumption behaviour
At present, 126 countries covering 51% of by the private sector and individuals. Around
global GHG emissions had adopted, announced two-thirds of global emissions are linked to
or were considering net-zero goals. private households, when using consump-
To remain feasible and credible, however, tion-based accounting.
these commitments must be urgently translated The wealthy bear greatest responsibility: the
into strong near-term policies and action and emissions of the richest 1% of the global popula-
reflected in NDCs. tion account for more than twice the combined
The levels of ambition in the Paris Agree- share of the poorest 50%.
ment still must be roughly tripled for the 2°C This group will need to reduce its footprint by
pathway, and increased at least fivefold for the a factor of 30 to stay in line with the Paris Agree-
1.5°C pathway, the report warned. ment targets.
Possible actions to support and enable lower
Shipping and consumption carbon consumption include replacing domestic
The report looked in detail at shipping and short-haul flights with rail, incentives and infra-
aviation, which account for 5% of global structure to enable cycling and car-sharing.
Week 49 09•December•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P5
