Carbon space refers to the space in the
atmosphere to absorb carbon dioxide.
The atmosphere has little space left to absorb more carbon
dioxide, and developing countries are now claiming their fair share to what
remains. Therefore, a global deal on climate change must put fairness and
equity at the center of its design, taking into account that much of the carbon
dioxide and other dangerous gases in the atmosphere have been placed thereby
developed countries.
The deal must ensure that developing countries be given
"carbon space" and "development space" to survive a well as
to achieve their development goals. Without such a design, developing Countries
will suffer from both a climate and a development Crisis. While developed countries
will continue to occupy most of the "carbon space".
The "carbon equity" principle was most prominently
stressed by the former Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh. He said any
agreement on climate was not acceptable to developing countries if it was not
anchored in equity and an equitable sharing of atmospheric space among all
countries which should not remain as mere words but must be given operational
effect.
Amount of
Carbon Emission:
The
scientists estimate that about 1,200 Giga-tones (Gtons) of CO2
equivalents have been emitted from 1850 to 2009. (1Giga = 1
billion),
Of this, about 400 Gtons was emitted during 1850-1970 and 800 Gtons
during 1970-2009. To have a half-chance of limiting the rise in global
temperature to 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels, another 1,000 Gtons can
be emitted for the years 2010–50.
Actual V/s
Fair Share of Carbon Space:
•
The United States with 5% of the world's population in 2009 has
contributed 29% of the increase in carbon in the atmosphere in 1850-2009, thus
exceeding its fair share of carbon space
by 24%, according to the paper's data.
•
Other
developed countries with 14% of world population contributed 45%.
•
The developing countries
overall had 81% of world population and its fair share of the total emissions
of 1850–2009 is thus also 81%. But in fact their share of actual emissions was
only 26%. They have thus under-used their share by 55%.
•
Almost all the developing countries have "under-used"
what would have been their share of the carbon space. India with 17% of world population has a 3% contribution to total
emissions of 1850-2009, and China
(so often blamed by the West) has 20% of world population and a 10% share of
total historical emissions.
The
following aspects to be noted in respect of fair share of carbon space:
1. Climate
Change and Rights:
•
It is clear that if global warming continues at the current rate,
civilization as we know will probably end, perhaps not with a whimper but a
bang.
•
Even if partially mitigated, is going to affect millions of
people.
•
The human rights framework must be used not only to identify what
rights people have that are or will be violated but also
people/countries/groups that violate such rights.
•
2. Locating
the Problem:
•
The key issue what action is leading to violation of people’s
rights to life and stable environment?
•
It is clearly the over-use of the global commons by some groups or
countries.
•
If carbon dioxide emissions are not cut, global warming is
inevitable.
3. Kyoto
Response (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 1997
at Kyoto in Japan.
•
Kyoto recognized this in its formulation of "common but
differentiated responsibility".
•
Common because we are dealing with the global commons
•
Differentiated because up to that historical point, some countries
have used disproportionate share of the existing carbon space.
•
Also recognized "carbon space" is also development Space
developing countries had primary objective of poverty reduction.
4. Introducing Carbon
Budget: Carbon budgeting" refers to determining how much various
countries contributed through the years to the carbon in the atmosphere, how
much more carbon can the atmosphere absorb before there are disastrous
consequences to the Earth, and how this remaining "carbon space"
should be allocated among various countries.
•
If we want to limit temperature rise to 2 Degree C (or a lower
value) we need to put numbers of aggregate future emissions that will allow us
to stay within this limit.
•
Nature papers last year made clear that the best way of looking at
it is to look at total aggregate carbon emissions from now to 2050.
•
The window of keeping temperature rise within 2 Degree C is only
2010-2050.
5. Rules
for Allocating Carbon Space:
•
Countries cut "consumption emissions" if current share
is more than fair share of carbon space.
•
Countries with per capita emissions above specified thresholds
implement steeper cut if global budget exceeded.
•
Countries are allowed "development" emissions if current
share less than the fair share of carbon space subject to global carbon budget.
6. Impact on Developing
Countries:
•
If developed countries cut slowly carbon emission, less carbon
space will be left for the developing countries.
•
If carbon space is limited, developing countries will be affected.
•
Incur higher cost per unit of energy to lower emissions.
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