L'AQUILA, Italy, July 6 /PRNewswire/ --
- Action by Scientists Underscores Urgency of National Progress and
Global Negotiations
A group of the world's top climate scientists today called on the leaders
of the world's major economies to adopt strong measures to address climate
change, including a peak in global emissions before 2020.
In a letter addressed to Ministers and Heads of State attending this
week's G8 summit and Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate in Italy,
the climate scientists, including several senior government climate science
advisors, make specific requests for policy action and warn that failure to
reduce emissions presents "unacceptable risks."
The scientists are calling for action from world leaders whose nations
represent around 70% of global carbon abatement potential. Among other
specific requests, the scientists underscore the importance of committing to
a global emissions peak by 2020 and beginning significant reductions in
harmful greenhouse gases well before 2020.
"This is a very important moment in the run up to the climate
negotiations in Copenhagen in December, aimed at achieving a global
agreement", said Michael Oppenheimer, Professor of Geosciences and
International Affairs at Princeton University, one of the signatories of an
open letter to Major Economy leaders published today. "Scientists worldwide
are calling on the leaders of the major economies to send a signal to rest of
the world that those countries with the highest emissions, those that are
also in the best position to make the greatest contributions to reducing the
risk, are ready to combat the threat posed by climate change. These countries
should make clear that they are prepared to seize the opportunity to promote
low-carbon economic growth and prosperity at home and abroad."
The letter makes five specific requests of major economy leaders:
1. Recognise that present global warming of 0.8 degrees C above
pre-industrial levels is already having a significant impact, and that
warming exceeding 2 degrees C predicted for later this century would create
great risks and have irreversible consequences
2. Commit to peak global greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2020
and reduce them by at least 50% relative to 1990 levels by 2050
3. For developed countries, commit to emissions reductions of at least
80% relative to 1990 by 2050 with appropriate intermediate targets set in
time for Copenhagen
4. For developing countries, commit by Copenhagen to significant gains in
energy efficiency, reductions in carbon intensity, and cuts in non-CO2
greenhouse gas emissions over the next two decades; this should be designed
to support sustainable development and to lead to substantial reduction from
business-as-usual emissions
5. Recognise that the impact of existing changes in climate are primarily
due to past emissions by developed nations, and that unless the burden of
poverty in developing nations is alleviated by significant financial support
for mitigation, adaptation, and the reduction of deforestation, the ability
of developing countries to pursue sustainable development is likely to
diminish, to the economic and environmental detriment of all
According to the signatories, the outcome of the Major Economies Forum
meeting on July 9 should be judged on these five points.
ClimateWorks
A copy of the letter and corresponding background information is available, please contact: Ben Evetts, Weber Shandwick for the European Climate Foundation, E-mail: bevetts@webershandwick.com, Telephone: +44-207-067-2749 or Tom Brookes, European Climate Foundation, E-mail: tom.brookes@europeanclimate.org, Telephone: +32-2-894-9310