Global warming could cost the world up to 20 trillion US dollar (100 billioner DKR) over two decades for cleaner energy sources and do the most harm to people who can least afford to adapt, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warns in a new report.
Bans report provides an overview of UN climate efforts to help the 192-nation General Assembly prepares for a key two-day climate debate in mid-February.
That debate is intended to shape overall UN policy on climate change, including how nations can adapt to a warmer world and ways of supporting the UN-led negotiations toward a new climate treaty by december 2009 (in Copenhagen).
In his 52-page report, Ban says that global investments of 15 trillion to 20 trillion dollar over the next 20 to 25 years may be required “to place the world on a markedly different and sustainable energy trajectory”.
In his report, Ban warned that global warming would probably affect women more than men.
Meanwhile, Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, stressed, that developed countries (industrilandene) have the main responsibility for taking the lead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The major economies could focus on providing input on a broad range of aspects of the Bali Roadmap. In discussing the long-term target, “you may address how to develop a shared vision”, said the UN official at the second Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change
De Boer wants the 16 nations in the forum, responsible for about 80 percent of global emissions, to take the lead in accelerating UN talks to craft a post-Kyoto framework by the end-of-2009 deadline.
The 16 countries will study a long-term global emissions goal, including the possibility of halving emissions by 2050, a system to check national midterm reduction measures by major emitters and industry-by-industry steps to curb emissions, according to delegates.
Among the issues is how developing nations may acquire the technology to burn coal more efficiently. Or capture and store carbon emissions in huge underground containers. Delegates are also expected to discuss matters like how to help developing countries prevent deforestation.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
