Earth Summit and related topics
- Earth Summit update
- The global debate - Nearly 3 years on
- Global issues, local action
- Global Action Plan
Earth Summit and Kyoto Protocol update
Sixty thousand delegates representing 189 countries - by any definition the Earth Summit in South Africa was a major event.
The Johannesburg summit, in August 2002, was an opportunity for the world to agree plans about sustainable development. Put simply that means 'living today with tomorrow in mind'. What we do today affects the future, if we squander resources people in the future will have to go without.
The ultimate aim of the Convention was to stabilise greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that would avoid dangerous climate change. It also placed a voluntary commitment on developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2000.
The UK was one of a small number of countries who met this voluntary target. The most up to date data on the UK's emissions show that carbon dioxide emissions fell by 6.4 per cent between 1990 and 2005 and total greenhouse gas emissions fell by 15.3 per cent over the same period.
It was quickly recognised that the Earth Summit could only be a first step in the international response to climate change. Climate prediction models show that deeper cuts in emissions were needed to prevent serious interference with the climate. The Kyoto Protocol, agreed in 1997, was designed to address this issue. The Protocol has since been ratified by over 166 countries, and entered into force (became legally binding) in February 2005.
The Kyoto Protocol is the first ever international treaty to set legally binding emissions reduction targets on developed countries that have ratified it.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, the European Union and its Member States have agreed to meet a joint target of a an 8 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2012. This 'bubble' arrangement allows the EU's target to be redistributed between member states to reflect their national circumstances, requirements for economic growth, and the scope for further emission reductions.
The full text of the Kyoto treaty:
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/kpeng.html
Defra’s information on the Kyoto Protocol:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/internat/un-kyoto.htm
Global issues, local action
Agenda 21 was agreed at the first world summit, in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. It was intended to be a detailed plan of action to be coordinated in every country and region to create sustainable communities for the 21st century. It called on local authorities to create a local action plan. Since then, around 7,000 programmes have developed across the world, and a regional government survey has showed that more than 93% of councils across the UK have produced a 'Local Agenda 21' document.
Source: The Guardian, 10 July, 2002
Your local council should have a Local Agenda 21 officer and a plan to develop sustainable use of energy and resources.
For example, Woking Borough Council has introduced:
- a recycling system plus kerbside collection of green refuse and paper council vehicles that use natural gas instead of diesel
- an area-wide combined heat and power (CHP) system that uses a
- central power system to deliver power, heat and light to people's homes. CHP is very energy efficient as it can generate electricity and heat in a single process.
Source: Woking BC Website
www.woking.gov.uk/environment/sustain
Global Action Plan
Global Action Plan is an independent charity that provides practical solutions to environmental and social problems.
An important part of that work is Action at School, an environmental programme that helps the whole school community to go green and save money. It's aimed at you: key stages 3 and 4.
Schools can choose to tackle water, waste, energy or transport over three terms:
- Term one: choose a project team. Term two: school audit and a campaign to persuade people that the project - whatever it is you have chosen - is worth supporting.
- Term three: theme week and a celebration of the success of the scheme.
Prestwich School in Bury reduced its waste by 40% with the help of the programme. Your school could do the same - or beat that target.
Action at School is a year-long programme of training and support, and requires third-party funding, which can be met by Local Authorities or by local companies.
See www.globalactionplan.org.uk or www.idea-knowledge.gov.uk for more information.
Alternatively, schools can contact Create or the local energy advice team for free advice on the same issues.
