Save the climate, save the world
Sam WongPublished: Sep 25, 2009 1:25 PM | Updated: Sep 25, 2009 1:26 PM
At the United Nations Climate Change Summit on Tuesday, China express their intent to curb greenhouse gases, cutting the expected 12.2 billion tones at year 2050 to 5.1 billion tones per year, even lower than the carbon emission at year 2005 which was 5.2 billion tones.
China would shift its energy structure to a balanced mix of one-third renewable energy, one-third petroleum and natural gas, and one-third conventional coal. By funding a massive clean technology effort, China pledge to move toward a low-carbon economy.
As the world's manufacturing center, China has given us a bountiful supply of dirt-cheap goods, but China also produces more carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels than any other country. In this case, emissions of carbon are dramatically changing the climate.
According to scientists, global greenhouse gas emissions are on an accelerating trend and if left unchecked, could lead to a 6.4 degree C (11.5 degree F) temperature increase by the end of the century, exceeding conservative estimates.
In addition, this scenario could create abrupt and irreversible changes, including the possible extinction of 20-30 percent of all species and collapse of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, which could create a sea level rise of several metres. If Antarctica's ice melts, cities such as Hong Kong and Miami would be threatened and countries around would be in risk as well.
Chinese president Hu Jintao was quoted during the UN summit: "Climate change is an environment issue, but also, and more importantly, a development issue". Global warming is not only the responsibility of the developed countries, but concerning everyone.
So what Malaysia can do about climate change?
Malaysia is a developing country; we are contributing to climate change as well. Whether Malaysia will sacrifice economic growth in the quest to prevent climate change, is hard to answer.
What Malaysia needs now is a policy framework that would bring about a movement to low-carbon technology development as a part of developing country?
We should slash emissions of carbon dioxide - from cars, power plants and factories - and other greenhouse gases, produce more renewable energy and to become more energy efficient.
China would shift its energy structure to a balanced mix of one-third renewable energy, one-third petroleum and natural gas, and one-third conventional coal. By funding a massive clean technology effort, China pledge to move toward a low-carbon economy.
As the world's manufacturing center, China has given us a bountiful supply of dirt-cheap goods, but China also produces more carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels than any other country. In this case, emissions of carbon are dramatically changing the climate.
According to scientists, global greenhouse gas emissions are on an accelerating trend and if left unchecked, could lead to a 6.4 degree C (11.5 degree F) temperature increase by the end of the century, exceeding conservative estimates.
In addition, this scenario could create abrupt and irreversible changes, including the possible extinction of 20-30 percent of all species and collapse of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, which could create a sea level rise of several metres. If Antarctica's ice melts, cities such as Hong Kong and Miami would be threatened and countries around would be in risk as well.
Chinese president Hu Jintao was quoted during the UN summit: "Climate change is an environment issue, but also, and more importantly, a development issue". Global warming is not only the responsibility of the developed countries, but concerning everyone.
So what Malaysia can do about climate change?
Malaysia is a developing country; we are contributing to climate change as well. Whether Malaysia will sacrifice economic growth in the quest to prevent climate change, is hard to answer.
What Malaysia needs now is a policy framework that would bring about a movement to low-carbon technology development as a part of developing country?
We should slash emissions of carbon dioxide - from cars, power plants and factories - and other greenhouse gases, produce more renewable energy and to become more energy efficient.
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