Stand of “Big 5” on climate change

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, for example variations in the solar cycle, volcanic eruptions. Again, these shifts may be due to human activities, like burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas or deforestation. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Greenhouse gases play an important role in keeping the planet warm to inhabit.

Climate change is a serious problem for the world. It will not only affect us but also the earth. It will affect everything from the places we live to the water we drink to the air we breathe. Many types of disasters including storms, floods, heat waves and droughts occur due to climate change. These events may damage property, create hazardous-material spills, pollute the air, and lead to loss of life. It increases the intensity of air pollution. Climate change creates pressure on wildlife to adapt to changing habitats. According to a 2014 IPCC climate change report, many species now face increased extinction risk due to climate change. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), climate change causes 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050. So climate change has an adverse effect on our lives and earth.

Since climate change is a global problem, we all should try to prevent it. “Big 5” is already trying to prevent climate change. Now, let us know what Big 5 is.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council are collectively known as the “Big 5”. These are Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. The UN Security Council is the premier global body for maintaining international peace and security, but it also takes actions to meet 21st century challenges like climate change.

Russia’s stand on climate change:

Russia is the world’s fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases. It is also a significant source of methane emissions. More than 20 percent of Russia’s GDP comes from fossil fuels. So, its effort to reduce emissions and diversify energy supplies away from fossil fuels represent a long-term threat to Russian energy exports and wider Russian economy. Russia has a great opportunity of vast forest. We all know that climate change issue is interrelated significantly on energy production. It has a threat of major export oil based on fuel. Still, this time in COP26, the President of Russia gave two words. These are-

Russia has promised to reduce emissions by 30% by 2030.
They have promised that Russia will be carbon-neutral by 2060.

So, we can say that Russia is playing a very positive role in climate change issue.

Recommendations:

Russia has already taken steps to prevent climate change. However, it should have a solid progress to diversify energy supplies away from fossil fuels to diversify major exports away from fossil fuels.

How effective is the role of USA?

We know that USA is the forward-leading country in the world in many areas like human rights, technology, power etc. But it played and playing a backward role in the climate change issue. USA ranks 2nd in carbon-di-oxide emissions. Kyoto Protocol was signed on 11th December, 1997 to control emissions of the main anthropogenic (human-emitted) greenhouse gases (GHGs). But USA opposed to sign it. The 196 participating countries agreed unanimously to the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas. USA withdrew from Paris Agreement on 4th November, 2017.

Recommendations:

Since USA is a very important permanent member of UN, it should play a convincing advocacy role to USA and create pressures for a forward role in the climate change issue rather than playing existing backward role.

Role of France on climate change:

France has been slower in preventing climate change compared to the other permanent members. In Paris, there was an agreement expected at the climate conference. But that didn’t happen. Again, environmental scientists believe that the national curbs to curb global warming emissions before the Paris conference are not enough to meet the goal.

Recommendations:

UNICEF has taken effective steps to call for children to receive education and training on climate change. France should allocate more funds on this issue and also on climate change.

Stand of China on climate change:

China is a founding member of United Nations and one of the five permanent members of UN Security Council. China aimed to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. On December 12, Jinping announced some commitments for 2030 that China will lower its CO2 emissions per unit to gross domestic product (GDP) by over 65% from the 2005 level and increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption around 25%, and brings its installed capacity of wind and solar power to over 1.2 billion KW. So, China played a great role in carbon emission reduction through promoting a green and low-carbon transformation of the industrial sector.

Recommendations:

China needs to develop specific actions to reduce carbon emission as well as increase non-fossil fuels.

Role of United Kingdom on climate change:

United Kingdom is taking a very positive stand on climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions in UK will drop to almost zero by 2050 to a new government plan to tackle climate change. UK already has a 2050 target to reduce emission by 80%. It was agreed by MPS under the climate change act in2008 but it will be revised to the new more difficult goals. Chancellor Phillip Hammond has warned of a potential cost 1 trillion by 2050. However, the acting energy minister said the cost would be between 1 and 2% of UK GDP.

Recommendations:

UK needs more revised goals to 2050 target to reduce emissions by 80%.

Here, we can say that Russia, China and United Kingdom are taking a very positive stand on climate change. They are taking the climate change issue very seriously. On the other hand, United States and France are lagging behind. Climate change is a global problem and has an impact on our lives. So, everyone should take this issue seriously. United States and France should now come forward to address this problem. Being a very important member of UN, it should convince and pressurize United States and France to play a forward role instead of playing existing zero role in climate change issue. At last, climate change being a serious problem, we all should come forward to prevent climate change and save the earth.

Reference: Climate change explained by Natural Resources Defense Council

Author: Noshin Anjum