 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 by AFP Staff Writers Moscow (AFP) April 22, 2021
President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia, the world's fourth-highest producer of carbon emissions, was committed to fulfilling its international obligations to combat climate change. Russia has set numerous heat records in recent years, with the first half of 2020 seeing the warmest temperatures since the country began weather observations. "Russia is approaching with complete responsibility its fulfilment of international obligations in this area," Putin told a summit hosted by US President Joe Biden. He added that Russia had set out to "significantly limit" net emissions by 2050. "Despite Russia's size, its geography, climate and the structure of its economy, I am sure this task is achievable," Putin added. He concluded by saying that Russia was interested in "stepping up international cooperation" on climate change. Rising temperatures are contributing to increasingly regular and devastating floods and forest fires in Siberia. Putin said earlier this week that Russia would set an emissions target "lower than in the European Union". In March last year, Russia released a draft of its long-term strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It envisions a 33 percent cut by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. High temperatures also account for melting permafrost -- which covers about two-thirds of Russia -- posing a hazard for the infrastructure built there, including the vast network of gas and oil pipelines. This also releases carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere that further triggers global warming. Weather monitors have recorded a historic decline in the summer ice cover of Russia's Arctic maritime shipping route, called the Northern Sea Route. Transit of the eastern Arctic usually ends in November but Russia hopes climate change means the commercial benefit of the route will increase.
Canada's Trudeau pledges new emissions reduction target of 40-45% The new target is to cut those emissions by 40-45 percent below 2005 levels, Trudeau said, upping the previous goal of 30 percent under the Paris climate accord. "We must take action now. Because there's no vaccine against a polluted planet," Trudeau told the virtual summit being hosted by US President Joe Biden. He said his government will enshrine this new goal in a law as Canada works to become carbon neutral by 2050. As it presented a budget Monday the government had already raised Canada's emissions reduction target to 36 percent below 2005 levels. In his speech Trudeau said Canada had adopted one of the strictest carbon taxes in the world. It will go from $50 per ton of CO2 -- the main greenhouse gas -- to $170 a ton by 2030. "Yes, you heard that right - $170 a ton," he said. "If major economies in the room were to follow Canada's lead and adopt a rising price on pollution and commit to phase out coal plants, we would accelerate our global path for a safe, prosperous net-zero future," Trudeau said. Radio-Canada said Wednesday that a minimum 40 percent target was the "price of entry" to the summit, which marks the United States's return to the climate table. On Tuesday, former US vice president Al Gore urged Trudeau in a Twitter message to try for a reduction of at least 50 percent by 2030.
New York city sues Exxon, Shell, BP for false advertising on pollution New York (AFP) April 22, 2021 New York city filed suit on Thursday against major oil corporations Exxon, Shell and BP for misleading consumers about the role their products play in climate change. The lawsuit alleges the companies were "systematically and intentionally deceiving New Yorkers" about the "disastrous impacts" of fossil fuels. The city seeks to stop the companies and the American Petroleum Institute from this "greenwashing" and to seek financial penalties. "Our children deserve to live in a world free from cl ... read more
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Google
