In advance of the climate negotiations later this year in Paris, each of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) countries -- 195 in total -- have agreed to submit a climate commitment that will outline the climate action each country will take beginning in 2020. These commitments -- also called Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, or INDCs -- are “nationally determined,” meaning that they are coming from each individual country and will not be subject to international negotiation or binding review.
Why are the climate commitments important?
We know that no country can solve the climate crisis alone, and the consequences to our economy, quality of life, national security, and environment will be dire if we don’t work with others to reduce climate pollution. And as we can see from the commitments that have already been submitted -- from countries like China, the U.S., the EU, Ethiopia, and Mexico -- countries around the world are taking action together to ensure a sustainable and healthy future for our planet and all the generations to come.
And this isn’t the end. A number of countries are still working on their contributions and will be submitting them throughout the rest of this year. The “Best Of The Best” commitments -- those that will continue to move the planet toward a healthy future -- will be featured here. Be sure to check back over the next few months as more come in.
Percentage of Global Emissions: 0.27%
Ethiopia ranks high on climate health trackers, and has resolved to cut carbon emissions 64 percent by 2030 against business-as-usual projections. As a “Least Developed Country,” its commitment to awareness of resilience, adaptation, and vulnerability has guided its development plans as it acquires technological advances.
The Ethiopian government has passed regulatory guidelines at the nation-wide, region-wide and city-wide levels, as well as sector-specific guidelines to encourage participation from all people and business. The Ministry of Environment and Forest has organized regular dialogues to track involvement progress, and anticipates that a full and effective implementation of its goals will take a $150 billion USD investment in energy futures.
Over 76 percent of Ethiopia’s population relies on wood for fuel and lacks access to modern energy sources. By establishing the Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy, its government has prioritized renewable sources as more energy stores become accessible to its citizens. The country sees its response to climate disruption as a way to promote sustainable jobs, public health, and a positive economy that will lift Ethiopia to middle-income status.
Percentage of Global Emissions: 0.16%
Morocco aims to reduce its emissions 30 percent by 2030 as compared to business-as-usual projections. This agreement is contingent upon receiving new sources of finances and support from the UNFCCC, as they expect the commitment to cost $45 billion USD. The country expects to dedicate at least 15 percent of its overall investments directly to climate disruption.
Water availability in Morocco was three times higher in 1960 than today, which has accelerated the country’s awareness of climate issues. With that in mind, they have pledged to reach over 50 percent of installed clean energy production capacity by 2025 and substantially reduce fossil fuel subsidies. The Moroccan Competence Centre for Climate Change has been established to monitor these goals and educate government members & the public.
Morocco’s National Waste Recovery Program and National Liquid Sanitation and Wastewater Treatment Program are new initiatives that are expected to improve water infrastructure up to a rate of 90 percent collection by 2020. Landfill and recycling establishments are also in the works for all major urban areas, and awareness of sustainable forestry and healthy modern agriculture is a continuing point of exploration in the country.
Morocco has a historically low emissions rate in general, and targets to increase the share of renewable electric capacity to 42 by 2020.
Percentage of Global Emissions: 25.36%
As a developing country, China’s 1.3 billion citizens are among those most adversely affected by climate change. To combat this, China has proposed a 40-45 percent reduction in carbon from its 2005 levels by 2020. They have also set goals to increase overall renewable energy reliance to 15 percent and increase the total forest area by 40 million hectares.
China has set up several national initiatives for climate change action and education, including the National Program on Climate Change, the Action Plan for Energy Conservation, and the National Plan on Climate Change. These initiatives are mainly targeted at coal consumption, and peak fossil fuel consumption could come as early as 2025 if the initiatives are aggressively implemented.
China’s climate commitment resolution says carbon emissions per unit of GDP have already decreased 33.5 percent below 2005 levels, and the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption is 11.2 percent. Solar energy consumption has increased 400 percent since 2005.
Percentage of Global Emissions: 10.16%
The EU and its 28 Member States -- including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lativa, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK -- are seeking a binding target of an at least 40 percent domestic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. They are also striving to reduce overall emissions by 85-90 percent by 2050.
Current measures taken to achieve these goals include binding emission targets for new car and van fleets, a new regulation on fluorinated gases, and implementation of Ecodesign legislation for boilers and water heaters. The EU also has 2020 emissions goals that are measured against “20-20-20” targets. These include increasing the share of clean sources of energy to 20 percent, improving overall energy efficiency by 20 percent, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent.
The EU and its Member States have already reduced their emissions by around 19 percent on 1990 levels while GDP has grown by more than 44 percent over the same period. The are thought to have one of the most comprehensive climate plans internationally.
Percentage of Global Emissions: 0.11%
Norway intends to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, aligning itself with the European Union’s target. Norway also plans to become a carbon-neutral economy by 2050. If additional developed countries adopt ambitions climate plans, Norway will strive for carbon neutrality by 2030.
Since 1991, emissions from offshore activities in Norway have been subject to a carbon tax. Oil-related activities incur the highest tax rates, and in opposition to offshore oil fields, Norway has most notably promoted small-scale hydropower plants and renewable energy sources. The electricity sector is almost carbon neutral, as hydropower facilities cover almost 95 percent of domestic generation.
Historically, Norway’s most important instrument to tackle greenhouse gas emissions has been the carbon tax on petroleum activities. Though emissions from offshore activities have doubled, the carbon tax is expected to cut those emissions in half by 2020.
Percentage of Global Emissions: 0.12%
Switzerland intends to lower its greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 percent by 2030 as compared to 1990 levels. A 35 percent reduction by 2025 is expected, and Switzerland's share in the global emissions is about 0.1 percent, mainly from the building and transportation sectors.
Over the last two decades, emissions in Switzerland have remained fairly stable, due in no small part to laws requiring at least 30 percent of the country to be fully forested. It has an extensive public transportation system, bike fleets, and a recycling rate that exceeds 50 percent per household. Switzerland ranked number one in overall environmental health by Columbia & Yale University 2012 study standards.
Nonetheless, since the beginning of temperature measurements in Switzerland in 1864, the average annual temperature has risen by 1.75 °C. Alps glaciers have been retreating at an accelerating pace since 1980, and since 1999 alone, the glaciers have lost over 12 percent of their volume. If the warming continues, only a fraction of the current glacier cover will be left by the end of the 21st century with significant impacts on the seasonal availability of water for drinking, agriculture and power generation.
Percentage of Global Emissions: 1.67%
Mexico’s geographic characteristics make it a vulnerable country to the adverse impacts of climate change. Given those impacts, Mexico has committed to reduce 25 percent of its greenhouse gases for the year 2030 and 50 percent by 2050. Emissions intensity per unit of Gross Domestic Product will reduce by around 40 percent from 2013 to 2030. They are also working to reach a rate of 0 percent deforestation by the year 2030.
According to Mexico’s climate commitment resolution, the direct effects of climate disruption-initiated weather have resulted in economic losses over an annual amount of 730 million pesos (around 48 million USD) between 1980-1999 and 21,950 million pesos (around 1.4 billion USD) from 2000 – 2012.
Legislatively, Mexico adopted its first Special Program on Climate Change in 2009 to create focuses in education and government. In 2012, the Mexican Congress unanimously approved the General Law on Climate Change, which made Mexico the first developing country to have a comprehensive mandated law on carbon emissions.
Percentage of Global Emissions: 14.4%
The United States intends to achieve an economy-wide target of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28 percent below its 2005 levels by 2025.
To spur the process of divestment, the U.S. has taken major steps legislatively to enact the Clean Power Plan (CPP), the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) first-ever carbon reduction standards for power plants on a state-by-state basis.
Carbon reduction through the CPP will occur by a series of “building blocks,” including a transition to clean energy sources, efficiency improvements at individual fossil fuel plants, and greater energy efficiency in buildings and industries. The CPP is part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, a long-term commitment to improving environmental standards for future generations.
The U.S. has also sought to invest $3 billion in the Green Climate Fund for reducing carbon pollution and strengthen resilience in developing countries, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable.
Additionally, grassroots activism across the U.S. has spurred climate action from the local to the national level, including the recent retirement of the 200th coal-fired power plant. At the same time, clean energy successes are building around the country.
