COP21 The Climate Change deal made in Paris

Many of you may have seen the news about the recent climate change deal which has been made in Paris.  After two weeks of intense negotiations, a deal to attempt to limit the rise in global temperatures to less than 2C has been agreed at the climate change summit in Paris.

The agreement is partly legally binding and partly voluntary and is the first pact to get all 196 countries to commit to cut carbon emissions.

The measures in the agreement include:

• To peak greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and achieve a balance between sources and sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century.
•  To keep global temperature increase “well below 2C (3.6F~) and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5C.
•  To review progress every 5 years.
•  $100 billion a year in climate finance for developing countries by 2020, with a commitment to further finance in the future.

Amber Rudd, the energy and climate change secretary, has said the Paris agreement would act as a trigger for investors to come forward and build a low carbon infrastructure.  “We have witnessed an important step forward, with an unprecedented number of countries agreeing to a deal to limit global temperature rises and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.  This is vital for our long-term economic and global security.  This deal will ensure all countries are held to account for their climate commitments and gives a clear signal to business to invest in the low carbon transition”

Ms Rudd told the BBC’s Andrew Marr show that the government would deliver energy change to the UK in a different way by ‘”providing better value for money for consumers”

The Paris deal is an important step forward, Nick Mabey, chief executive of E3G who are the independent experts on climate diplomacy and energy policy said “the agreement is an ambitious one which will require serious political commitment to deliver.  This means governments will go further and faster to tackle climate change than ever before and the transition to a low carbon economy is now unstoppable ensuring the end of the fossil fuel age”

Prior to the Paris agreement being made, the Chancellor delivered the Autumn Spending Review at the end of November and announced continual commitment to the Renewable Heat Incentive, which he said will be reformed.

The announcement stated “The government will increase funding for the Renewable Heat Incentive to £1.15 billion by 2020-21, while reforming the scheme to deliver better value for money”

We are looking forward to seeing the developments the government puts in place to enable them to meet their commitment to the Paris agreement and encourage renewable technologies.