Climate Change

We have just seen the first global commitment to reduce greenhouse emissions, reached in Bali, in December 2007. The conference started off with the premise to define new objectives of reduction of emissions beyond 2012; with the Intergovernmental Panel on the Climatic Change (IPCC) seeking to set ambitious commitments of 25%–40%. Simultaneously, that meeting tried to reconcile the positions of the United States and developing countries, particularly China, India and Brazil. The final outcome is positive, with the USA taking its first steps towards binding emissions reduction (although the level has not yet been defined) and with developing countries agreeing to adopt some control of their emissions in exchange for economic and technical aid.

Globally, the energy sector accounts for 41% of emissions. The International Energy Agency expects CO2 emissions in 2030 to have increased by 55% to more than 40 billion tonnes of CO2. The share of emissions coming from electricity production will be 40% in 2030. (EWEA)

In this section, we look at key findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Report, November 2007, under the areas of:

• Worldwide CO2 emissions
• Observed changes in climate
• Causes of climate change