The former UN climate chief says the political momentum that existed at last year’s climate talks in Copengagen remains, despite the failure to reach a global agreement and the lack of legislative progress on climate action in the US.
Yvo de Boer, who stepped down as UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Executive Secretary in July and is now a sustainability and climate change adviser at consultancy KPMG, said developments such as national emissions targets and rising green sector investment reflect a continued commitment among both governments and the business community to address climate change.
“I think that a lot of the political momentum that was there in Copenhagen is still there today, in the sense that [US President Barack] Obama is still committed to the climate and energy agenda and he sees green employment at the heart of that agenda,” he told journalists in London on Tuesday.
De Boer pointed to green economic growth packages in China and Korea as further evidence of the widespread political force behind climate action. Despite the economic crisis, business is also committed to action on climate change, as evidenced by the increased investment in renewable energy, he said.
While the US’ ability to push through climate legislation has stalled, de Boer pointed to that country’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17% by 2020 from 2005 as a reflection of a desire for action.
“And that is what the international community will hold the United States accountable to,” he said.
He added that close to 25% of US economy is under or close to being under an emissions trading scheme, through voluntary and state-based programmes.
“States in the US are not waiting for federal legislation to emerge, they’re beginning to take action already,” he argued.
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