MUST STOP SPEW - STERN

Originally posted May 8.
Not too many people in the world know as much about climate change as British economist Lord Nicholas Stern. He says the only way to keep change from becoming crisis is to bring the world’s greenhouse gas (GhG) emissions to a peak within 15 years, cut them to half of 1990 levels by 2050 and half again after that.

To halt the average global temperature rise at 2 degrees C. above pre-industrial levels global GhG emissions must be brought from the current 7 tonnes per person to 2 tonnes per person.

Stern sees, as the best path to emissions reduction, a mandatory international cap-and-trade system on GhGs accompanied by massive technology research, development and deployment. These tools would facilitate the growth necessary to prevent economically challenged nations from bearing the brunt of the harm done already by economically privileged nations’ spew.

The Stern Review on the economics of climate change was perhaps the most influential public statement on the subject after Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports

The original Stern Review ranks with the IPCC report in importance. (click to enlarge)

Rich world must back 80% carbon cuts – Nicholas Stern
Jeremy Lovell (w/Giles Elgood), 30 April 2008 (Reuters)

WHO
Professor Lord Nicholas Stern, economist/author/global climate change authority

The new Stern paper insists on a universal cap-and-trade system as the most accessible way to cut emissions. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
In Key Elements of a Global Deal on Climate Change, Lord Stern asserts that developed countries must agree to cut their greenhouse gas (GhG) emissions dramatically and developing nations must agree to set rigid goals soon.

WHEN
- Stern’s call is for the developed nations to cut their emissions 80% from 1990 levels by 2050 and for the developing nations to set concrete goals by 2020.
- The Stern Review on the economics of climate change was published in 2006.

Perhaps the most important insight from the Stern Review. (click to enlarge)

WHERE
- Lord Stern teaches at and is published by the London School of Economics and Political Science.
- U.S. GhG emissions: 20 tonnes/person
- Europe/Japan GhG emissions: 10 to 12 tonnes/person
- China GhG emissions: 5 tonnes/person and growing fast
- India GhG emissions: 2 tonnes/person and growing fast

WHY
- Necessary: An international understanding of the challenges and opportunities
- Necessary: Emissions targets for all nations
- Necessary: Leadership from developed nations
- Necessary: Implementing a mandatory international cap-and-trade system
- Necessary: Reducing deforestation
- Necessary: Technology implementation
- Necessary: Adaptation

The Gore movie galvanized world attention. Stern now wants to inspire world action. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Stern: "There is a real hurry for this. The developed world must lead by example…"
- Stern: "Everything flows from the figures. That is the simplicity of the argument. If you buy into stabilisation at 500 parts per million (atmospheric carbon -- equivalent to two degrees rise) the rest is arithmetic…"