Major Progress for The United States at COP 27
At Viridan Group, we feel deeply connected to the environment and feel even more passionate about the work we are doing to decarbonize and support the clean energy transition. As a recruitment agency dedicated to the renewable energy and sustainability market, we felt like it was necessary to highlight some of the ongoing challenges going on in the world and what we can do to potentially help or be more aware of.
Over the next six weeks, we will be sharing news and key happenings within the industry that we feel passionate about among some tangible action points that can be followed to contribute to combatting climate change. Thanks to our very own, Natalie Byle for driving this mission for us.
Major Progress for The United States at COP 27
As more communities and regions are experiencing the harsh realities that are inflicted upon our natural world through anthropogenic induced degradation and absorbent greenhouse gas emissions, all eyes are on the UNFCC and subsequently, the Conference of the Parties summits to set parameters, implement effective solutions and monitor the progress of commitments made. The monumental adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015 at COP21 is the key benchmark used to guide current discussions. The historic treaty which holds 194 parties globally to the legally binding promise of keeping global temperatures under 2 degrees celsius warming by 2050 compared to pre-industrial levels, with the goal of keeping temperatures below a 1.5 degree celsius increase.
Last year at COP26 in Glasgow, Poland was the 5-year benchmark check-in for the commitments made in Paris, this was delayed one year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, many states including all G20 nations including the United States were in the hot seat without significant progress or plans to achieve these goals. The UN’s IPCC predicted prior to Glasgow that at the current rate, emissions were to increase 13.7% by 2030, compared to 2010 levels. It was agreed that each party’s plan to keep global temperatures from rising beyond the agreed upon specifications was to be presented at this year’s COP27 summit held in Sharm El- Sheikh, Egypt. The United States who shamefully left the Paris agreement just two years ago is embarking on an aggressive mitigation mission spearheaded by President Joe Biden who began his presidency by rejoining the Paris Agreement in his first day in office and has announced major strategies that the US will support at this years COP27.
This year’s COP in Sharm El-Sheikh was held from November 6-18th and it is the 5th time we’ve seen the parties meet in Africa, a continent that has contributed very little to climate change yet has seen dire repercussions including a severe draught that further enables the food crisis across the continent. In good fashion, President Biden stepped up to the plate on November 11th with announcements of drastic action that the US pledges to take domestically and internationally. For starters, Biden announced $150mm pledge to the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaption and Resilience (PREPARE) for efforts across the continent of Africa and $20mm for Pacific Small Island Developing States. Furthermore, Biden committed an additional $50mm to the Adaption Fund, $5mm to support vulnerable migrants globally and $3mm with Bloomberg Philanthropies to support governing bodies develop and implement net-zero road maps. Biden announced the launch of the Government Lead by Example Movement which will largely shift the market, requiring all suppliers to disclose their GHG emissions in support of the Paris Agreement. The US Federal Government is the largest single buyer of goods and services in the world with an estimated $630 billion in annual spending making this transition especially interesting to follow. Additionally, Biden announced partnership with Germany to accelerate Egypt’s clean energy transition with a $250mm investment for 10 GW of wind, solar and battery storage development with an anticipated $10B return. In the spirit of unity, the Green Shipping Challenge was launched this year by the US and Norway to reduce emissions in the shipping sector which remains one of the ten greatest emission sectors and is not compatible with the guidelines of the Paris Agreement. And finally major updates on the Global Methane Pledge were made, this pledge was established by the EU and the US last year in Glasgow. Biden announced expansion of this pledge to limit the pollution from the oil and natural gas industries with support of plans like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act and annual appropriations to further research and design and implement critical decarbonization infrastructure like wind, solar, fusion and other alternative energy sources.
President Biden brought overwhelming encouragement to the world stage and is establishing his legacy as a climate leader with heavy commitments to mitigation and adaption support, he encourages other world leaders to follow suit. He promises that “the United States of America will meet our emissions targets by 2030” and that there will be a plan to meet net zero emissions for the nation by 2050 that we will see outlined at next year’s summit in Dubai. It is important as individuals to understand our carbon footprint and the contribution we can make to support the fight against climate change. Following the UN’s Campaign for Individual action framework in your day-to-day life is one way to do your part. These guidelines suggest 9 different variables that you can control from saving energy at home to suggesting you walk, bike or take public transport when you can. Additionally, you can support direct intervention by donating to the Clean Air Task Force who pushes for policy to regulate global emissions.
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