Lima Accord

As you probably heard by now, Peru was the host to nearly 200 nations, who had traveled to Lima to discuss what to do about global climate change – Lima Accord.  The Twentieth Conference of the Parties (COP-20) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change recently concluded.  The 195 nations, rich and poor, agreed to the first such agreement after 20 years of conferences and public debate, to reducing the fossil fuel emissions – oil, gas and coal.

The deal is interesting in that there are no legally binding requirements.  It is based on pledges made by every country to reduce emissions in their country.   Each country will introduce domestic laws to reduce carbon emissions via a plan to be public by March 31, 2015 with a deadline by June.  The plan is to lay out how each country will cut their carbon emissions after 2020.  While there are those that think that the time frame should be now, it is not pragmatic when you analyze the energy systems in each country. 

Think about it.  You are asked to devise an energy plan for the next 20 plus years by March 31, 2015.  Now, there are those countries, which have long-term plans in place and this deadline won’t be an issue.  Denmark is such a country.  But the vast majority of the other countries will need time to analyze their needs and then to implement their plans.  The US would be one of those.  We have so many interested parties that want to put in their two cents worth, that it takes too long for a consensus to materialize that quickly.  The energy plan needs to phase in new renewable technologies before phasing out the old hydrocarbon-based technologies.  Otherwise, we will have a highly unstable energy system.  Think and be smart about this.