Are the Country's Governments Doing Enough to Tackle Climate Change?

Are the Country's Governments Doing Enough to Tackle Climate Change?

Introduction

Climate change is the most urgent and complex challenge facing humanity and the planet. It is caused by the increase of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels. These gases trap heat and make the Earth warmer than it should be. This has many negative impacts on the environment, wildlife, and human health.

The scientific consensus is clear: to avoid the worst consequences of climate change, we need to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as agreed in the Paris Agreement of 2015¹. This requires rapid and deep cuts in GHG emissions, as well as adaptation measures to cope with the changes that are already happening.

However, are the country's governments really doing what they should to reduce the risk of climate change? How are they performing in terms of mitigation and adaptation? What are the barriers and opportunities for more ambitious and effective action? This article will attempt to answer these questions by reviewing the latest evidence and analysis from various sources.

Mitigation: The Gap Between Pledges and Reality

Mitigation refers to the actions taken to reduce GHG emissions or enhance their removal from the atmosphere. Mitigation is essential to prevent further warming and limit its impacts. However, mitigation is also challenging, as it involves transforming the energy, transport, industry, agriculture, and land use sectors that underpin our economies and societies.

One of the main tools for mitigation is the nationally determined contributions (NDCs), which are the pledges made by each country to reduce their GHG emissions by a certain amount or intensity by a certain year, as part of the Paris Agreement. The NDCs are supposed to reflect each country's highest possible ambition, taking into account their national circumstances and capabilities.

However, according to a recent report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the current NDCs are far from sufficient to achieve the 1.5-degree goal². The report estimates that even if all countries fulfill their NDCs, global emissions will still be 16% higher in 2030 than they were in 2010. This means that global emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels, to have a 50% chance of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees².

The report also warns that there is a significant gap between what countries have pledged and what they are actually doing. Many countries are not on track to meet their NDCs, and some have even increased their emissions since 2010. Moreover, many countries have not submitted updated or more ambitious NDCs for 2020, as required by the Paris Agreement².

The main reasons for this gap between pledges and reality are:

- Lack of political will and leadership: Many governments lack the political will or leadership to implement bold and comprehensive policies and measures to reduce GHG emissions. Some governments face opposition from powerful interest groups, such as fossil fuel industries, that benefit from the status quo. Some governments also prioritize short-term economic growth over long-term sustainability.

- Lack of international cooperation and support: Many governments lack the international cooperation and support they need to enhance their mitigation efforts. Some developed countries have not fulfilled their commitments to provide financial, technical, and capacity-building assistance to developing countries. Some developing countries have not received adequate recognition or incentives for their mitigation actions. Some countries have also withdrawn from or undermined multilateral agreements and institutions on climate change.

- Lack of public awareness and engagement: Many governments lack the public awareness and engagement they need to generate social and political support for their mitigation policies and measures. Some governments have not communicated effectively or transparently about the causes and consequences of climate change, or about the benefits and costs of mitigation actions. Some governments have also not consulted or involved relevant stakeholders, such as civil society, private sector, local communities, and indigenous peoples, in their decision-making processes.

Adaptation: The Challenge of Increasing Vulnerability

Adaptation refers to the actions taken to adjust to the actual or expected impacts of climate change. Adaptation is necessary to reduce the harm or exploit the opportunities that climate change may bring. However, adaptation is also difficult, as it involves dealing with uncertainty, complexity, variability, and non-linearity.

One of the main tools for adaptation is the national adaptation plans (NAPs), which are

the strategies developed by each country to identify their adaptation needs and priorities,

and implement appropriate actions across different sectors and levels³. The NAPs are

supposed to reflect each country's specific vulnerabilities, risks, opportunities,

and capacities.

However, according to a recent report by the Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA),

the current level of adaptation is grossly insufficient to cope with the increasing impacts

of climate change⁴. The report estimates that climate change could push more than 100

million people into poverty by 2030, and affect the lives and livelihoods of billions of people

around the world. The report also warns that adaptation is not keeping pace with the

growing exposure and sensitivity of people and systems to climate hazards⁴.

The report also highlights that there is a significant gap between what countries need and

what they receive in terms of adaptation support. The report notes that only about 5% of

global climate finance is spent on adaptation, and that most of it goes to a few countries and

sectors. The report also points out that many countries face multiple barriers and constraints

in accessing and using adaptation finance, such as complex procedures, high transaction

costs, low absorptive capacity, and weak governance⁴.

The main reasons for this gap between needs and support are:

- Lack of political will and leadership: Many governments lack the political will or leadership to prioritize and mainstream adaptation in their national policies and plans. Some governments view adaptation as a secondary or residual issue, compared to mitigation or development. Some governments also lack the vision or foresight to plan for long-term and systemic changes, rather than short-term and incremental ones.

- Lack of international cooperation and support: Many governments lack the international cooperation and support they need to enhance their adaptation efforts. Some developed countries have not fulfilled their commitments to provide financial, technical, and capacity-building assistance to developing countries. Some developing countries have not received adequate recognition or incentives for their adaptation actions. Some countries have also withdrawn from or undermined multilateral agreements and institutions on climate change.

- Lack of public awareness and engagement: Many governments lack the public awareness and engagement they need to generate social and political support for their adaptation policies and measures. Some governments have not communicated effectively or transparently about the impacts and risks of climate change, or about the benefits and costs of adaptation actions. Some governments have also not consulted or involved relevant stakeholders, such as civil society, private sector, local communities, and indigenous peoples, in their decision-making processes.

Conclusion

Climate change is a serious and urgent issue that affects the whole planet. It requires rapid

and deep cuts in GHG emissions, as well as adaptation measures to cope with the changes

that are already happening. However, are the country's governments really doing what they

should to reduce the risk of climate change?

The answer is no. The evidence shows that there is a huge gap between what countries have pledged and what they are actually doing in terms of mitigation and adaptation. There is also a huge gap between what countries need and what they receive in terms of support for their climate actions. These gaps are caused by various factors, such as lack of political will, lack of international cooperation, and lack of public awareness.

Therefore, it is imperative that all countries take urgent and effective actions to close these gaps and fulfill their commitments under the Paris Agreement. This requires strong political will and leadership, enhanced international cooperation and support, and increased public awareness and engagement. This also requires a holistic and integrated approach that considers the interlinkages between mitigation and adaptation, as well as between climate change and other development goals.

Only by doing so can we avoid the worst impacts of climate change, protect the most vulnerable people and communities, and ensure a sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come.