Monday, December 9, 2019

International Energy Policy Global Effort To Fight The Change

Question: Discuss about the International Energy Policy for Global Effort To Fight The Change? Answer: Introduction Global warming and climate change are one of the integral discussions that the world is facing currently (Hansen, Sato and Ruedy 2012). Along with affecting the nature, it is affecting the human beings biologically. It has been found that carbon emission is the most dangerous that is happening in the society which is largely affecting the world. There have been various steps and various treaties that have been launched to make the environment better and safer for the living beings. Thus, write-up will focus on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change- conferences of parties that was held in April in the year 2015 (Field 2012). The conference started on 30 November 2015 and went on until 12th December 2015. The agreement was later merged with Kyoto protocol. The write-up will give particular attention to the effect of the conferences on Brazil. The write-up will further critically analyze the steps taken by Brazil in the past and the changes that have been taken by th e government after the agreement (Shindell 2012). Conference in Paris The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change started in the year 1992 (UNFCCC 2016). Various countries around the world joined in an international treaty and pledged that they will work together to combat the issues of climate changes and global warming. In the year 1995, the treaty even strengthened to act towards the global change in the world temperature and eventually, it adopted the Kyoto Protocol (Deser 2012). The Kyoto Protocol brings together the developed countries that in turn will help in reducing the emission in the environment to make the environment a better place to live in. However, in the year 2015, the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was adopted on 12 December 2015 (OUTCOMES OF THE U.N. CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE IN PARIS 2015). The Paris Agreement was launched with a perspective of further developing the bonding to face the issues of climate change in the atmospheres. The Paris Agreement was done to (or intending to) strengthen the actions and distribute the investments in such a manner so that they could aim for the low carbon future.' As carbon emission is one of the most grievous problems in the society, hence, Paris Agreement decided to keep the global temperature rise below 2 degree Celsius above the pre-industrial level. The Paris Agreement even decided that the countries would make an even further effort to keep the temperature rise below 1.5 degree Celsius (UNFCCC 2015). However, this goal seems impossible until it is backed up by a proper plan regarding the finances and transparency of the plan, which will support the cause (Chemnick 2016). One of the most important parts of the plan is the transparency. The countries were asked to submit the emission report to the author so that the they track the emissions that are taking place in various countries and whether they are taking the necessary step to combat those emissions (Rubin 2016). The report that will be submitted to the authorities will go through an expert technical review', and they will decide if the countries require any extra help to make the agreement work. Depending upon the program and the available amount of resources the agreement can make the scope and the frequency more flexible so that it easier for the countries to achieve the goals (Stocker 2014). Finance is another issue for the countries bonded in the agreement with the developing countries demand more financial support and assurance (Fankhauser 2013). To maintain a balance between the developed and the developing countries the agreement has asked the developed countries to provide financial support to eh developing countries. The developed countries have already promised to provide $100 billion per year to the developing countries until the year 2025. However, the COP has decided to extend the goal after the year 2025 (Schwartz 2016). Energy Policy of Brazil Keeping in view the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Brazil has adopted the mitigation and the steps for implementation of the plan to achieve the goal that has been set in the Paris Agreement. Mitigation Brazil has decided to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by 37% by taking in view the durations of a decade, which is from 2005 to 2025. It has been planned that gradually, it will reduce by 43% (The Brics Post 2016). As far as the use of market is concerned, the country has kept itself open to use any kind mechanisms in any market to achieve the goals that have been set in the Paris Agreement. The federal government should give formal and prior consent. Brazil will not allow any other party other than the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol to get involved in the mitigation outcomes (Luomi 2014). Adaptation and Undertaking Brazil has taken initiatives to help the country achieve the agenda that has been set in the conventions. To achieve the goals, it has taken measures by controlling the population, the ecosystems, the production system and reduce the vulnerability and the through the use of the services of the ecosystem (UNFCCC 2015). Implementation Plan Brazil plans to implement the steps with the help of the financial conventions that have been provided by the Paris Agreement. To enhance their actions, Brazil aims to take full help and support from the authorities of the convention. If Brazil needs to take further actions reacting the implementation of the plan, the country might need to get more international support and flow of investment. They need to develop the technology, transfer of technology and the deployment of technology. Special actions have been taken in the forest sector where they implemented REDD+ activities, and the steps will regularly be reviewed so that the result will be permanent and expect to get payment from the conventions as it has been decided in the Paris Agreement (UNFCCC 2015). Critical Analysis The bulk of GHG emissions in the atmosphere are related to the emissions from the industrial and residential development. The relationship between energy and development has evolved in Brazil. It is undoubtedly responsible for the historical emissions for the increasing global warming rate of the climate (Jacoby and Chen 2015). According to the IPCC, the CO2 emissions are necessitating the need to characterize with sustainable use of energy followed by large scales measures adopted for land use changes and forests. Moreover, enhancing the zero-low-carbon energy supply by would lower the emissions by the year 2050 (Mundy et al. 2016). The Globalization of Energy Demand and Carbon Emissions in Brazil Brazil is one of the countries that are changing due the growing demand for energy (fossil fuels), emphasis on energy production, carbonization in the electricity sector and the struggling bioenergy sector. However, according to the current government estimates, the emissions have grown to 60% in the current decade of 2012-2022. Nevertheless, an alternative solution is possible with the signals are given in right direction to prevent the carbonization supply and ensuring growth and competitiveness in the constrained-carbon world (Luomi 2014). The challenges are primarily faced in the GHG emissions; hydropower dominated electricity sector, transport, and the fossil fuels emissions. However, as compared with other oil producing countries, Brazil has shown impressive results in reducing emissions from deforestation that accounts for 82% from 2004 to 2014. According to the energy mix, Brazil constitutes of 40% of renewable with 75% in the electricity supply itself which is four times the average of OECD countries (UNFCCC 2015). As per the tenth session of COP (Conference of Parties) in Paris, the agreement was to prevent the rise of global temperature above 2 degrees Celsius. UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres encouraged countries to come forward with their INDCs for underlining obligation and support towards the thriving outcome in Paris. These decisions imposed by UNFCCC led Brazil to lower the emissions while assuring transparency, clarity, and understanding in the measures taken (UNFCCC 2015). Effort Measures taken on Decisions by Tenth Session Meeting of UNFCCC Brazil's INDC had a broad scope in incorporating alleviation, adaptation and ways of accomplishment, consistent with the contributions' rationale to achieve the eventual objective of the Convention. Brazil advance adoption measures the 2 degrees Celsius temperature goal according to the highlights of the Convention. Broadly it can be described under three headings as given below. Emissions Abatement The emission abatement is one crucial issue that throws light on the land use change and forests and the energy sector emissions that influences not only the climate's temperature but also the economic structures and resource bases. The land use change and forests are based on the implementation of particular policies and measures that view to attain zero illegal deforestation in Brazilian Amazonia by 2030 (Romeiro and Biderman 2016). It also says that compensating for the greenhouse gasses emissions from legally controlled vegetations for further strengthening the policies. It is also, adopting multiple purposes in forests to restore the reforestation in 12 million hectares. However, after the attainment of small measures, the Brazilian government will apply georeferencing and tracking system for the native management to eliminate the unsustainable and illegal practices (UNFCCC 2015). The second factor in which sustainable practices will be reinforced is the energy sector in which renewable energy should constitute of 45% of the energy mix by 2030. This factor will outline the three dimensions. They are an expansion of renewable resources; achieving gains in electricity sector with the expansion of non-fossil fuel energy sources. The three dimensions should constitute a target by 20130 that includes renewable source expansion with a special focus on hydropower energy of 28-33%. Secondly, achievement of 10% efficiency gains by 2030. Lastly, increasing the expansion of power supply to at least 23% by augmenting the share of biomass, solar and wind renewable energy (Romeiro and Biderman 2016). Emissions Intensity The emission concentration can be reduced by increasing the share of sustainable fuels in the Brazilian energy mix strategy that expands the biofuel consumption by 18% in 2030. However, with the growing ethanol supply, increasing the share of advanced biodiesel mix in diesel and increasing the advanced fuels of the second generation will help in lowering the concentrating of emissions (Melim-McLeod, 2015). Nevertheless, if analyzed on the different sectors in Brazil; the agricultural sector is following the "Low Carbon Emission Program" (ABC) for reinstating the additional 15 million hectares of pasturelands that have been degraded by 2030. Moreover, enhancing an extra 5 million hectares of cropland-stock-forestry systems will help in reducing the emission concentration. In the industry sector, new clean technologies have been developed that enhances the energy efficiency measures by developing low carbon infrastructure (Silva-Chvez 2015). Nevertheless, in the transport sector that emits maximum amount of carbon-di-oxide emissions is improving its infrastructure in the urban areas pertaining to public transportation (UNFCCC 2015). Abatement Cost The cost of controlling emissions is one perspective that needs concern because the Brazil's climate plan is based on short-term measures that will focus on long-term sustainable planning. Brazil's cost-effective abatement prospects are to reduce GHG energy recounted emissions by roughly 40 percent comparative to the baseline of present plans for the energy sector (The New Climate Economy Report 2016 2014). Such efforts will as well convey health co-benefits and enlarge the competitive nature in the cities. However, the initial cost as stated will rise and may affect the social structure of the economy that will be publicly articulated by with a vision of reinvesting the revenue derived from oil export or social welfare programs (Marcondes de Carvalho 2015). Conclusion Brazil one of the oil producing countries has made a global effort to fight the change but the momentum is not on the highest level and is less ambitious. Nonetheless, Brazil needs to necessitate for a goal that could change the course of the economy. On the other hand, Brazil is making its full attempt being one of the first major developing countries that are fighting for climate change with an absolute reduction target of emissions. However, the common vision followed by every country as well as Brazil signals the desire for zero carbon worlds in the new international climate agreement. References Chemnick, J. (2016). 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