Can COP 21 In Paris Prevent The Climate Catastrophe?

Can COP 21 In Paris Prevent The Climate Catastrophe?

Postby Oscar » Tue Dec 01, 2015 10:39 am

Can COP 21 In Paris Prevent The Climate Catastrophe? ( Articles on Saskatchewan’s fossil fuel proponent below . . . . . )

[ http://www.socialeurope.eu/2015/11/can- ... tastrophe/ ]

by Asbjørn Wahl on 30 November 2015

The main reason for this failure of the COP process is, among other things, that we are up against very strong economic and political interests linked to the fossil fuel industry – as well as a neoliberal political offensive.

Today, the 21st UN Climate Change Summit (COP21) starts in Paris. All the way since the Rio Conference in 1992, the aim of these summits has been to agree on policies which can stop global warming and prevent climate catastrophe. The concrete aim has been to limit global warming to maximum 2oC (preferably 1.5oC). The emission of CO2 in the atmosphere is the prime driver of the process of global warming, and the use of fossil fuel is the most important source of CO2. Therefore reduction in the use of fossil fuel, and transition to renewable energy, are at the core of the climate change problem. After more than 20 years of climate summits, however, CO2 emissions have not been reduced. They have rather increased by more than 60% (1992 – 2014). This illustrates more than anything else the failure of the COP process so far.

A global warming of 2oC will already create enormous problems in terms of extreme weather conditions (draughts, floods, storms etc.). The average global temperature increase is just about to pass 1.0oC since pre-industrial time, and we have seen devastating effects (the hurricanes Haiyan in the Philippines, with 6,340 fatalities, and Sandy in New York are among the most resent). A temperature increase higher than 2oC – up to 3, 4 or even 6oC – will therefore represent a climate catastrophe of unknown dimensions, of which consequences we are hardly able to imagine. We are, in other words, faced with a planetary emergency. So the question is: will the Paris Summit be able to agree on measures sufficient to prevent the catastrophe?

The aim of the Paris summit is to negotiate a global agreement on climate change. After preparatory meetings it seems as if there will be an agreement in Paris, and that this agreement will be presented as a great victory. An agreement is important, but the problem, as it looks today, is that the contents of the agreement will not be sufficient to prevent climate warming of catastrophic dimensions. The most important weakness of the agreement seems to be that it will not be legally binding. It will be an agreement based on voluntary pledges (so-called Intended Nationally Determined Contributions – INDC) from countries on how much they are prepared to cut their emissions. By now, most of the countries have presented their pledges, and, summarised, the cuts are not sufficient to keep global warming below the 2oC threshold. A scenario of 3oC+ is more likely. With such an agreement, we will face irreversible climate change, including massive job losses and a destructive development crisis.

The main reason for this failure of the COP process is, among other things, that we are up against very strong economic and political interests linked to the fossil fuel industry – as well as a neoliberal political offensive. Of the 10 biggest and most powerful companies in the world, 7 are oil companies, and these companies are using all their power to avoid policies which can hurt their economic interests. They are supported by an army of neoliberal politicians of different kinds. Our struggle to avoid devastating climate change is therefore closely linked to the interest-based struggle on what kind of society we want. The trade union movement will have to play a decisive role in this struggle, because of its strategic position in society. It has not yet taken sufficient responsibility for this development, but ever more trade unions are actually joining the campaign against climate change. Initiatives like the Trade Unions for Energy Democracy (TUED) and the Global Climate Jobs network represent important developments, and the ITUC has taken an important lead in pushing for more activities and more pressure from below.

The climate crisis can be prevented. We do have all the knowledge and technology we need to do so. What we lack is the social, political and economic power sufficient to carry out the measures necessary to stop global warming. This will not come from the economic and political elites that govern us and control big oil and big finance. Only massive pressure from below, from a broad coalition of trade unions, other social movements, environmentalists and others can save us from climate catastrophe.

MORE:

[ http://www.socialeurope.eu/2015/11/can- ... tastrophe/ ]

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RELATED:


Brad Wall Worried Oil And Gas Industry Seen As A Liability

[ http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/07/15 ... 04536.html ]
CP | By The Canadian Press Posted: 07/15/2015 3:25 pm EDT Updated: 07/16/2015 11:59 am EDT

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Brad Wall attends Paris climate talks to voice province’s, Western Canada’s concerns

[ http://beaconenergynews.ca/energy-news/ ... -concerns/ ]

October 22, 2015 | By Markham Hislop

Brad Wall says its important to ensure whatever Canada commits to at the Paris climate change conference doesn’t kneecap western Canada’s economy.

REGINA – Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says more can be done to help protect the environment, but he also wants to make sure new policies don’t hurt the province.

Wall says that’s why it’s important to raise Saskatchewan’s concerns at a major climate talk in Paris.

“We want to make sure that whatever Canada is committing to doesn’t kneecap our economy in the West,” Wall said of the Paris talks.

- - -SNIP - - -

The targets will be important for Saskatchewan, which relies heavily on coal. Coal currently provides 44 per cent of Saskatchewan’s electricity, according to SaskPower’s website.

Saskatchewan has a carbon capture and storage project that the government touts as the world’s first commercial-scale operation of its kind.

The $1.4-billion facility takes carbon dioxide released by the Boundary Dam power plant near Estevan and releases the gas deep underground using a steel pipeline for storage.

“We’re trying to clean it up, but where we still have an energy sector that’s important, and a mining sector that has high emissions,” Wall said.

“From the opportunity to promote CCS and from a sort of proactive, or maybe a defensive posture, I want Saskatchewan’s voice to be there when maybe some pretty important decisions are being made that’ll affect consumers and job creators here in Saskatchewan.”


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U.S. senator says SaskPower carbon capture a ‘failed project’

[ http://globalnews.ca/news/2342420/u-s-s ... d-project/ ]

November 16, 2015 2:40 pm Updated: November 17, 2015 8:39 am

EXCERPT:

NDP SaskPower critic Cathy Sproule says Crown executives aren’t telling the truth in trying to sell expertise gained from the CCS plant.

Sproule cited a SaskPower video presentation, still being used at events around the world, claiming the plant is capturing one million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

In reality, results have shown performance is less than half that. SaskPower showed the CCS unit on pace to capture roughly 400,000 tonnes of CO2 in 2015.

“The damage this is doing is very concerning,” Sproule said. “We need SaskPower … the government, to get it together, get the story straight.”

Since mid-Janaury, the best capture rate appears to be less than 65 per cent – and that’s only on the days the unit has been up and running. It’s been shut down due to mechanical issues more than half the time, SaskPower says.

Bill Boyd, the minister responsible for SaskPower, admits Manchin’s comments aren’t helpful to the carbon capture plant’s reputation, but says there is still a strong international interest.

“We’re going to have to be very clear with people coming to look at this facility in the future that there’s problems associated with it,” Boyd said. “I don’t think they’d be unfamiliar with the fact that a project of this nature may have problems.”

Boyd says there are no more overseas trips scheduled to promote the CCS facility and that SaskPower will be more clear with international guests about the problems failures experienced so far.


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Newly revealed SaskPower chart shows capture performance not improving

[ http://globalnews.ca/news/2313488/newly ... improving/ ]

By Mike McKinnon Reporter Global News November 2, 2015

EXCERPT:

Several internal memos leaked to the Opposition and made public in the last week reveal the project’s poor record, which has cost taxpayers millions in penalties and revenue shortfalls.

“Almost everything said about this project can be contradicted by this one chart,” NDP leader Cam Broten said Monday. “The only time they come out with some information is when there’s a document that contradicts the lines, the spin, the news releases they’ve been cranking out time and time again.”

“We’ve got a big problem here with what they’ve been saying and what the reality actually is.”

Wall has defended the government’s lack of transparency about Boundary Dam’s performance, saying the plant is highly efficient at capturing CO2 when it’s in working order.

“They’re not about the technology, which is what we want to sell. They’re about other mechanical issues, which are being resolved.”

The NDP also took aim Wall for an October 1, 2014, tweet calling the facility “fully operational” the day before it opened.
Oscar
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