What happens between peak and peak? How is the degree of compliance with the set goals measured? In GET OVER We examine the key achievements in the fight against climate change and the remaining challenges.
After an in extemis agreement, countries must now set their roadmap to adhere to the consensus reached at the climate summit. Too many deliberate gaps have left a bittersweet aftertaste for those most committed to the planet.
Countries must “transition” to achieve zero emissions by 2050. It is the repeated headline of the final agreement of COP28. A deal was struck at the last minute. For experts, the problem lies in what isn't being said.
Intentional gaps
Agustín Gutiérrez salesmanReference of the integral ecology of Spanish Caritas He assures that this agreement “leaves some gaps, some areas that are not covered, not agreed and not consciously discussed, which concern us in the medium and long term.” The non-mention of methane also leaves us unsettled, we want to be hopeful, but We know very well that this summit will leave a bittersweet aftertaste.” They also consider the agreed $600 million to support countries that are victims of climate change to be very small.
Ecologist and professor at the University of Navarra Arturo Ariño does not have a more positive vision. “There are countries that complain,” he explains, “for some reason that an agreement pushed by the core of oil-producing countries has a whole series of loopholes, holes through which continued continuous fossil fuel production sneaks in “There has been a lot of emphasis on carbon storage technologies or the transition to green hydrogen, which are medium-term and offer these countries a kind of unusual business path, or almost.”
These are technologies that are “promoted more as a cushion for producers than as a problem-solving technology.” There are other things that need to be added, possibly geoengineering, very dangerous techniques, but which may already be necessary – points out the researcher – the problem is that they are not developed, which is why some delegates believe that they represent a kind of safety net for producers. Sooner or later they have to be implemented because reducing emissions is no longer enough, but what cannot be is that they serve as greenwashing for reducing emissions. The cause must be eliminated. “They are necessary, almost like an additional tool, but we can't keep putting band-aids on, the most important thing is not to hurt ourselves.”
The balance sheet of the Paris Agreement
That was the aim of the summit, to determine the level of compliance with the agreed agreements Climate summit took place in the French capital in 2015. For the Cáritas spokesman, “the balance shows that the current emission rate has nothing to do with the negotiations.” “It took 30 years to reach this agreement.” Ariño explains that not all countries have provided data, “some “They have put on the table other financial resources, but there are details that have been postponed to later climate summits and there are still fundamental disagreements.” I remember, for example, the article that refers to Article 42, on which no agreement has yet been reached and which aims only to determine whether agreements are reached by consensus or by vote. There are still many things to come.”
Heating
The scientist assures us that it is very difficult to make predictions about the number of degrees the planet will reach by 2050, the date when the peak marks the end of fossil fuels, “but there is international consensus that the Planet is warming.” – assures Arturo Ariño- and among scientists an idea is gaining traction that is becoming very scary: if warming progresses too quickly, there could be a rebound effect: an even greater problem of hypothermia. What we don't know is whether the model of 2 degrees or 2.5 degrees for 50 is the one that will be maintained or not, because it depends on things that we have no control over, like volcanic activity and things about the Yes, we have it, like the emission of gases that we can't really control.”
The ecologist reminds us of this Climate and Earth “We don’t care what we do: politics don’t care.”, they only care about what factors are included in the equations that determine the climate. It doesn't matter whether countries produce a lot or a few, unless it is truly controlled at a global level there is little to be done. “The weather doesn’t care.”
Accelerate the removal of greenhouse gasesMore funding for countries affected by climate change and the introduction of an early warning system for climate risks are some of the wishes that Cáritas has sent us for the next climate summit.