INDC: 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries presented their climate commitments
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A total of 146 countries in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which encompasses 195 nations, have submitted their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), to make known the actions they will take to reduce their Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) and address climate change. October 1st was the deadline for States to make public their INDCs on a voluntary basis, and according to their realities. The contributions are based on sectoral measures to achieve sustainable development, and may include actions to adapt to the effects of climate change.
To date, 9 of the 10 countries with the highest GHG emissions (China, the United States, the European Union, India, Russia, Japan, Brazil, Indonesia and Mexico) have published their INDCs, which together account for a total of 71% of the planet's emissions. The only country missing from the list is Iran, which also makes a significant contribution. All developed country members of the UNFCCC, together with 104 developing nations, have submitted their climate commitments. They account for a total of almost 87% of global emissions. The contributions constitute a significant contribution to the negotiations that will culminate at the COP21 in Paris in December of this year, where a new global agreement on climate change is expected to be signed, which will keep global warming below 2°C.
Latin American contributions
Mexico was the first Latin American country and one of the first worldwide to make its contribution public. Its stated goal is to unconditionally reduce its GHG emissions by 25% compared to a “Business as Usual” (BAU) scenario by 2030, i.e. compared to the level of emissions projected for 2030 business as usual. The percentage could be raised to 40% on a conditional basis, subject to a global climate agreement with certain conditions, including access to international financial and technological support.
Mexico was followed by Colombia, which committed to reduce 20% of its GHG emissions by 2030, compared to a BAU scenario. The ambition could rise to 30% in case of international support.
In the three days prior to the deadline, 11 Latin American nations presented their reduction targets: Brazil, Peru, Guyana, Uruguay, Chile, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, Paraguay, Ecuador and Argentina.
The region's contributions focus mainly on the forestry sector (combating deforestation and revaluing the forest) and the energy sector (conventional renewable energies such as hydroelectric power and, to a lesser extent, non-conventional renewable energies such as solar or wind power, as well as the development of energy efficiency). They also include actions aimed at good agricultural practices, clean transportation, waste management and improvement of industrial processes. In addition, Latin American INDCs have a strong adaptation component, since the region is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as deglaciation, rising sea levels, floods or extreme droughts, depending on the area.
An important milestone was the fact that several countries committed to a minimum target unconditionally, relying on their own resources. It shows the level of maturity in the region's states is growing. In addition, several nations such as Mexico, Chile or Peru showed transparency by organizing public consultations on their INDC proposals.
In addition, six Caribbean islands, particularly vulnerable to climate change due to rising sea levels and the increase in extreme weather events such as tropical storms, submitted their INDCs: Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Barbados, and Dominica.
Co-benefits of climate action
Although Latin America and the Caribbean account for only 7% of emissions emissions on the planet (9.6% if emissions linked to deforestation and land use are included), it is important that each country has a reduction commitment, to add to the global effort. Furthermore, climate action is not isolated; it is part of a transition towards sustainable growth.
The measures contained in the INDCs generate co-benefits For example, the development of renewable energies such as solar panels allows populations in isolated rural areas to have access to energy; better public transportation allows for less air pollution and better quality of life in cities; the fight against deforestation includes actions for the economic revaluation of the forest. Likewise, adaptation actions bring improvements to various sectors of the economy, such as health, agriculture and food security, water, housing, infrastructure, productive systems, among others.
Collective ambition
The most ambitious country in Latin America was Costa Rica, as it reaffirms in its INDC its goal to be carbon neutral by 2021, meaning that in addition to reducing its GHG emissions, it will offset the remaining emissions, mainly through forestry actions. This commitment also highlights the importance of pre-2020 action, since the agreement to be signed in Paris will not enter into force until 2020, and that actions are needed that are framed in the current scenario to address climate change.
A United Nations study, scheduled for November 1, will assess whether the sum of national efforts is sufficient to achieve the goal of limiting global warming to a level safe for humanity. Other countries will continue to submit their plans until the end of the year but will not be taken into account in the report. Studies such as that of Climate Action Tracker already predict that the level of ambition of the INDCs is insufficient.
While the INDCs are a fundamental contribution to reducing GHG emissions, important contributions are also being made by non-state actors (cities, companies, NGOs, citizens) in the global struggle to protect life on the planet.
Check out this free infographic by ConexiónCOP.
Source: ConexiónCOP
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