Senate "Climate Change" Hearing Discusses Emission Targets and Trade Measures
At a November 17, 2009 hearing to explore the international aspects of global climate change, the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee heard testimony on various countries' emission and climate change goals and trade-related aspects of climate change.
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Measures to Meet Emerging Goal of 50% Global Emissions Cut by 2050
According to the testimony, there may be an emerging international goal to cut global emissions 50% by 2050. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce notes that this "50-by-50" goal has been endorsed by G8 leaders as they prepare for global climate talks in Copenhagen.
The International Energy Agency estimates that in order to get the world on this path, the U.S., Europe, China, and India would each need to cut their energy-related emissions by 12-15% by 2020 and by 34-42% by 2030.
According to the testimony and recent announcements by the U.S. and China:
EU has 20% by 2020 plan. Europe has agreed on a "20-20-20 by 2020" plan which aims to cut European emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2020 while boosting renewables to 20% of primary energy and increasing efficiency by 20%. In addition, the EU emissions target would increase to 30% if there is a strong climate deal.
U.S. offer of 17% by 2020. The White House announced on November 25, 2009 that the U.S. is prepared to offer an emissions reduction target in the range of 17% below 2005 levels in 2020 and ultimately in line with final U.S. energy and climate legislation. It adds that in light of the President's goal to reduce emissions 83% by 2050, the expected pathway set forth in certain pending legislation would entail a 30% reduction below 2005 levels in 2025 and a 42% reduction below 2005 levels in 2030.
China to reduce "emission intensity per GDP unit" 40-50% by 2020. China's State Council announced on November 26, 2009 that China will reduce its intensity of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP in 2020 by 40 to 45% compared with 2005 levels Press sources indicate that depending on its economic growth, China's emission levels could actually increase.
India's policy being developed. According to testimony, India's 2008 National Action Plan on Climate Change was the first Indian attempt at developing a comprehensive climate strategy, and included "missions" on solar energy, energy efficiency, urban energy use (including vehicle fuel economy), and forest cover. While details mostly remain to be fleshed out, Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow Levin states that India has been wrongly lumped together with China in climate discussions as total Indian emissions were, as of 2005, about 25% of total Chinese emissions and its GDP about 30% of China's.
Border measures are counterproductive. Both the National Foreign Trade Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce argued that border measures that impose additional tariffs on goods imported from countries that have not adopted restrictions on emissions similar to the U.S. (such as those found in the pending American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009), would be counterproductive and cause unnecessary friction with U.S. trading partners.
Tariffs/barriers on "green" products should be reduced. Many witnesses testified on the benefits of reducing tariffs and other obstacles to selling environmental goods and services abroad, as the U.S. is among the largest producers and consumers of "green" goods and services today. They point out that in China and India, tariffs on such products can be as high as 40%. While the U.S. has proposed an Environmental Goods and Services Agreement as part of the WTO Doha round, progress has been slow.
"Green" IPR should be protected. Both the National Foreign Trade Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce testified that any global climate talks should ensure intellectual property rights protection. Otherwise, developing countries could claim the legal right to "seize" the technologies developed by others in the name of the environment.
Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee hearing information (dated 11/17/09) available at http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=da3ed941-e505-d8be-a4c1-13bd38e3e42b
White House press release (dated 11/25/09) available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-attend-copenhagen-climate-talks
Embassy of China press release (dated 11/26/09) available at http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/xw/t629653.htm