The Climate Action Tracker - Copenhagen climate deal not on track for 2°C by Climate Analytics / European Climate Foundation 3:01pm 24th Nov, 2009   Nov. 2009    The emission reduction commitments made by countries in the Copenhagen climate negotiation sessions are still far less ambitious than those needed to limit global warming to 2°C, let alone 1.5°C. This "Climate Action Tracker" is an independent science-based assessment, which tracks the emission commitments and actions of countries. The website provides an up-to-date assessment of individual national pledges for to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.    Developed country emission reductions as a whole are currently projected to be 8-12% below 1990 levels by 2020 after accounting for forestry credits, rather than the 25-40% reductions described as necessary by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The less ambitious reduction (8%) is unconditional for most countries and the more ambitious reduction (12%) is linked by most countries to a strong agreement in Copenhagen- even this however is far from the IPCC reduction ranges for developed countries.    After accounting for forestry credits that developed countries want, the effective target by 2020 for developed countries would be only 3-7% more than the original Kyoto target of a 5% reduction by 2010. More ambitious targets are needed if we are to achieve low greenhouse gas concentrations and thus keep the rise in global temperature within low limits.    It is encouraging that the actions proposed by the developing countries currently on the table could lead to a reduction in the growth of emissions of 5-20% below "business as usual emissions" in 2020, compared to the 15-30% needed by 2020 to limit global warming to 2°C or even lower.    The Climate Action Tracker reveals large differences between the ambition levels of countries when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In the lead are the Maldives and Costa Rica, which have proposed to become climate-neutral in by around 2020. At the high end of the scale is Japan, Norway, who propose significant redcutions. Also Brazil moved to this category with its recent reduction proposal.    In the middle of the range are developing countries such as Mexico, China, Indonesia, which propose to reduce the growth of their emissions by the 2020s. The EU is a special case, in that its unconditional commitment is rated "inadequate", while the EU would enter the "medium" range if its 30% reduction target were to be adopted.    Between the middle and the bottom of the scale is the United States, whose proposed actions are "inadequate" to fall within the range that is needed to keep global warming within lower limits. At the very bottom end of the scale are countries that have yet to propose substantial action beyond "business as usual". These include Belarus, Russia and Ukraine..    * Visit the link below for more details. Visit the related web page
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