- Emissions reduction targets of some of the world’s leading states and regions are projected to take them below 2 degrees Celsius threshold up to 2020 – but ambition needs to be more long-term
- Almost 1300 climate actions disclosed by 62 governments around the world in 2016
- Number of governments involved in the Compact of States and Regions grows by 41%, to now include 17% of the global economy
LONDON: The Compact of States and Regions today reveals, in its annual report, the vision set out in the Paris Agreement is within reach. Delivering on all disclosed 2020 targets in time would result in savings that put these governments on track to stay below the critical warming threshold of 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The report provides valuable insights to support national governments heading into the ‘2018 facilitative dialogue’, aimed at raising ambition in the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and shows how many disclosing states and regions are ahead of schedule.
Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change said in the report’s foreword:
“The report is powerful evidence how these governments continue to go the extra mile in bold climate policies and action. It is particularly heartening to see that some states and regions are already targeting net zero emissions. The [Paris] Agreement’s strength rests not just on central government action but the unprecedented support and growing enthusiasm of business, investors, citizens, cities, states, provinces and regions.”
The Compact of State and Regions urges governments to step up their long-term ambition to match the required rate of decarbonization and complement their goals with deep de-carbonization pathways. At the same time the report also highlights that governments of six major states and regions have already met or exceeded their 2020 targets, four years ahead of schedule, including: Scotland, Catalonia, Lombardy, Carinthia, Connecticut, and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Many others are on the verge of doing so. 65% of governments disclosing a base year emissions reduction goal are currently below their base year emissions.
Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Secretary for Environment, Climate and Land Reform for the Scottish Government said:
“I am pleased to say that Scotland has achieved it emissions reduction target of 42% by 2020 six years early with emissions down by 45.8% between 1990 and 2014. We are proud of the progress we have made but we know we can go further. In 2017, the Scottish Government will bring forward a package of measures to ensure that Scotland continues to cut emissions.”
The Compact, which is a collaborative initiative between The Climate Group and CDP, has grown significantly since it was launched in 2014. The number of governments taking part has increased by 41% this year, reaching a total of 62 states, provinces and regions by the time of COP 22 in Marrakech. These governments are responsible for a collective total of over 3 GtCO₂e, more than the combined emissions of India and Canada, and $12.9 trillion in GDP – or 17% of the global GDP. New members have joined from around the globe including Gujarat, Cross River State, Minnesota, Hidalgo and Veneto.
Dr Alice Ekwu, Commissioner for Climate Change and Forestry, Cross River State, Nigeria said:
“The Compact of States and Regions provides the much needed platform for state and regional governments to share their success and challenges in one common pursuit to commit to GHG emission reductions and make the world a better and more prosperous place.”.
The report shows that states and regions across the world are currently on the right trajectory to mitigate the impacts of climate change in the immediate future. The size and scale of the governments involved in the Compact shows that whatever happens at national level these governments play a key role in hitting the targets set out in the Paris Agreement.
Damian Ryan, the acting CEO of The Climate Group said:
“The high level of action that we have seen from state, provincial and regional governments over the past two years has taken place against the remarkable backdrop of the signing and ratification of the landmark Paris Agreement. The work by these states and regions show that as the world becomes more uncertain at national level, governments of states and regions are in the vanguard for driving climate action forward.”
The report also highlights that states and regions are backing up their climate goals with a variety of specific climate actions. This year alone, 1299 individual climate actions were disclosed across ten economic sectors. Many governments, including California, Jalisco, New York State, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Sardinia and Oppland indicated that tackling short-lived climate pollutants (i.e. methane, black carbon O3, HFCs) is one of their key priorities in the next two years.
Paul Simpson, CEO of CDP said:
“We have seen Compact governments double down on cutting their region-wide GHG emissions and setting more reduction targets. We call on more governments to join the Compact, reduce their emissions and commit to transparent annual disclosure. Our journey has only just begun.”
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Notes to editor
Projected GHG emissions
For notes on methodology, please see the 2016 Disclosure Report
Contact
Tim Wild
+44(0)20 7395 0465
[email protected]
London
About The Compact of States and Regions
Announced at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014, the Compact of States and Regions is an initiative that provides a transparent, global picture of efforts to tackle climate change from state and regional governments. It is designed to catalyze climate change mitigation through inventory development, target setting and strategy development. Less than two years after its launch, the Compact of States and Regions, an initiative driven by The Climate Group and CDP, has become the global go-to platform for states, provinces and regions to measure and manage their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions - already collecting climate data from 62 governments representing 17% of the global economy.
About The Climate Group
The Climate Group is an award-winning, international non-profit. We specialize in bold, catalytic and high-impact climate and energy initiatives with the world’s leading businesses and state and regional governments. Our work is at the forefront of ambitious climate action.
Our vision is a world of prosperous ‘net zero’ emission economies and thriving, sustainable societies.
Our mission is to catalyze climate leadership in government and business to accelerate the shift to a prosperous and thriving ‘net zero’ future for all. We do this by communicating to inform, convening to connect, and collaborating to scale and succeed.
Founded in 2004, our offices are located in Beijing, Hong Kong, New Delhi, New York and London.
www.TheClimateGroup.org
[email protected]
@ClimateGroup
About CDP
CDP, formerly Carbon Disclosure Project, is an international, not-for-profit organization providing the global system for companies, cities, states and regions to measure, disclose, manage and share vital information on their environmental performance.
Voted number one climate research provider by investors, CDP works with 827 institutional investors with assets of US$100 trillion and 89 purchasing organisations with a combined annual spend of over US$2.7 trillion, to motivate companies to disclose their impacts on the environment and natural resources and take action to reduce them.
Over 630 cities, states and regions and some 5,800 companies, representing close to 60% global market capitalization, disclosed environmental information through CDP in 2016. CDP now holds the most comprehensive collection globally of primary corporate, city, and state and regional environmental data and puts these insights at the heart of strategic business, investment and policy decisions.