Story by: Ishmael Barfi
According to the International Report on Climate Targets Aligned with Fair Share, the Government of Ghana has announced that Ghana’s climate targets are fair-share aligned with a 1.5ºC world and fully compliant with the Paris Agreement.
This was disclosed in the groundbreaking findings of a new report through a public communications release which evaluates the alignment of every country’s Paris Agreement climate targets for 2030, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), towards limiting global warming to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels, taking into account the demands of the fair-share contributions each country should make.
Commissioned by the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), the new comprehensive 2023 “Traffic Light Assessment Report: Fair Share Pathways to Combat Global Climate Breakdown” adopts a novel approach, quantifying national emissions trajectories based on equity principles, providing valuable insights into the ambition of national 2030 targets.
Furthermore, the report underscores the critical importance of adopting equitable and immediate action to close the ambition gap.
“Fair-share contributions account not only for current emissions, but also past emissions, per capita pollution levels and the different capabilities of countries in terms of wealth and development levels.
The 2023 “Traffic Light Assessment” report also highlighted that in the aggregate Africa as a whole, as well as the Least Developed Countries and most of the CVF were compliant with a fair-share delivery under the Paris Agreement.
However, national targets set by major economies, including most G7 and G20 countries, are far outside of a fair share effort.
Such countries are also the same nations responsible for the overwhelming majority of the global climate pollution (some 80% in the case of the G20, and some 23% in the case of the G7).
In contrast, most countries in the Global South, including Ghana, have demonstrated commitment by aligning their national climate targets with what can be considered a fair-share effort to contain planetary warming to 1.5°C by 2030.
Recognizing the need for transformative action, the Release notes that, Ghana reiterates the importance of countries worldwide collectively mobilizing to implement a 1.5°C trajectory by doing their fair share now.
“Our NDCs reflect our dedication to addressing the climate crisis while adhering to equity principles”, the release stated.
The Government of Ghana affirms its commitment to being part of the solution and taking bold actions to combat climate change and stands with the “Fair Share Now” campaign to address the global insufficiency in fairly aligning with the Paris Agreement’s climate targets.
“We call upon all countries, especially the G7-G20 nations, to increase their ambitions and join hands with us in the global effort to safeguard the planet and secure a sustainable future for generations to come”, it concluded.
About the 2023 Traffic Light Assessment Report
The Traffic Light Assessment Report serves as a comprehensive evaluation of countries’ commitments to the Paris Agreement’s climate goals for 2030. Commissioned by the Climate Vulnerable Forum, the report aims to hold nations accountable by assessing their alignment with the Paris Agreement’s temperature and equity principles.
It reveals that while a majority of countries are compliant, wealthy nations, particularly those in the G7 and G20, are falling significantly short.
The report serves as a cornerstone for the “Fair Share Now: Stop Climate Cheating” campaign, emphasizing the urgent need for equitable and immediate climate action.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
