PPT Slide
Objective of the Climate Change Convention
The Climate Change Convention seeks to stabilize atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases "at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic [human-induced] interference with the climate system".
There are three requirements:
- this objective should be achieved early enough to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change
- food production should not be threatened
- efforts to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and climate change should be consistent with sustainable economic development.
Notes:
No one definition of ‘dangerous’, the determination of degree of risk and safety is a political one, expressed by the COP on behalf of the international community.
The Convention requires policymakers to take concrete actions.
They say it will take a 60% reduction in 1990 emission rates to stabilize the temperature.
“Sustainable Economic Development” is a term that has not yet been operationalized. We’ll know what it is only when it happens.