International News
G20 nations collectively account for 78% of all emissions, but
only five G20 members have committed to a long-term zero
emissions target.
In the short-term, developed countries will have to reduce
their emissions quicker than developing countries, for reasons of
fairness and equity. However, all countries will need to contribute
more to collective effects. Developing countries can learn from
successful efforts in developed countries; they can even leapfrog
them and adopt cleaner technologies at a faster rate.
Crucially, the report says all nations must substantially
increase ambition in their Nationally Determined Contributions
(NDCs), as the Paris commitments are known, in 2020 and
follow up with policies and strategies to implement them.
Solutions are available to make meeting the Paris goals
possible, but they are not being deployed fast enough or at a
sufficiently large scale.
Each year, the Emissions Gap Report assesses the gap between
anticipated emissions in 2030 and levels consistent with the 1.5°C
and 2°C targets of the Paris Agreement. The report finds that
greenhouse gas emissions have risen 1.5% per year over the last
decade. Emissions in 2018, including from land-use changes such as
deforestation, hit a new high of 55.3 gigatonnes of CO 2 equivalent.
To limit temperatures, annual emissions in 2030 need
to be 15 gigatonnes of CO 2 equivalent lower than current
unconditional NDCs imply for the 2°C goal; they need to be 32
gigatonnes lower for the 1.5°C goal. On an annual basis, this
means cuts in emissions of 7.6% per year from 2020 to 2030 to
meet the 1.5°C goal and 2.7% per year for the 2°C goal.
To deliver on these cuts, the levels of ambition in the NDCs
must increase at least fivefold for the 1.5°C goal and threefold
for the 2°C. Climate change can still be limited to 1.5°C, the
report says. There is increased understanding of the additional
benefits of climate action – such as clean air and a boost to the
Sustainable Development Goals. There are many ambitious
efforts from governments, cities, businesses and investors.
Solutions, and the pressure and will to implement them, are
abundant.
As it does each year, the report focuses on the potential of
selected sectors to deliver emissions cuts. This year it looks at
the energy transition and the potential of efficiency in the use of
materials, which can go a long way to closing the emissions gap.
HVAC TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE
Growing demand for air conditioning units and refrigerators is
threatening to accelerate global warming, but new guidelines
could help reduce emissions by setting clear performance
standards for new appliances.
The new model guidelines for room air conditioners and
refrigerators provide a tool for developing and emerging
economies on laws and policies requiring new appliances
www.hvacronline.co.za
The UNEP
Emissions
Gap Report
assesses the
gap between
anticipated
emissions in
2030.
to be energy-efficient and use refrigerants with a lower
global warming potential. If ambitious efforts in line with the
guidelines are pursued throughout Africa alone, the annual
impacts by 2030 would result in savings of 40 terawatt hours of
electricity—equivalent to the output of almost 20 large power
plants and a cost of USD3.5-billion (R53-trillion) in electricity
bills—and a reduction of 28 million tonnes of CO 2 emissions.
“We need to expand access to cooling, which is essential
to many aspects of human life and the achievement of the
Sustainable Development Goals,” said Brian Holuj of the UNEP’s
United for Efficiency initiative (U4E), and one of the lead authors
of the guidelines. “But we also need to mitigate the energy and
environmental impacts. The guidelines advise governments on
how to do just that.”
COOLING ON A GROWTH SPURT
Cooling is critical for human health, productivity, manufacturing,
data centres and research. But the anticipated growth will
accelerate climate change unless we change our approach.
Typical cooling units require electricity and a refrigerant gas to
operate. When electricity comes from fossil fuel power plants—
which is the case for nearly 75% of the electricity in non-OECD
[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]
countries—they emit greenhouse gases and air pollution.
Globally, an estimated 3.6 billion cooling appliances are in use
today, and this is projected to increase to 9.5 billion appliances
by 2050. If cooling is provided for all who need it in a warming
world—and not just those who can currently afford it—this would
require up to 14 billion cooling appliances by 2050.
Electricity consumption varies widely, but household
refrigerating appliances in some unregulated markets have been
found to consume over 1 000 kilowatt hours of electricity (kWh)
per year, whereas some of the best consume around one fourth
as much.
MINIMUM STANDARDS CAN MAKE A
REAL DIFFERENCE
Minimum energy performance standards and energy labels,
if well-designed and implemented, are some of the fastest
and most effective approaches to improve efficiency. The
RACA Journal I April 2020
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