Recently the Korean government announced three possible scenarios for carbon dioxide emission reduction targets. This is a welcome and important development. Korea is among the first countries in the world to commit to such a target. I welcome Korea's announcement and believe that this will be a positive catalyst for the upcoming United Nations climate change negotiations in Copenhagen.
To prevent catastrophic climate change all nations need to limit the global average temperature increase to no more than 2 degrees Celsius. To accomplish this challenging, but vital, goal the total emissions from all countries must be cut to less than half of their 1990 level by 2050. In the UK we have legally binding targets to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, in the long term by at least 80% on 1990 levels by 2050. To set us on the right track we have short term targets set at 34% reductions by 2020. And it's working as emissions have fallen steadily since 1990 while GDP has increased.
When I have the opportunity to meet Korean Government representatives I continue to support an ambitious mid-term target. I have been impressed by the current Administration's efforts on low carbon green growth. A quick transition to a low carbon economy is in all of our interest, and these targets are an important part of that evolution.
Posted at 15:05 15 September 2009 by Martin Uden | Comments[0]
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