Following the Paris Agreement in 2015 to keep global emissions below 2 degrees Celsius. There have been many commitments from countries, firms, and cooperations worldwide, and COP 27 thematic day on decarbonisation ended with heightened commitments to decarbonise the global economy. Decarbonisation is reducing greenhouse gas emissions released to the atmosphere by human activities. In addition, it is driving the reduction in the utilisation of fossil fuels and promoting adaptation of low-carbon power generation.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. They do not escape out of the atmosphere but remain as a “blanket-like covering”, retaining heat on the earth from the sun. This phenomenon is referred to as the “greenhouse effect”. The trapped heat causes global warming, which is posing a global challenge. Greenhouse gases include methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxides, fluorinated gases, water vapour, sulphur dioxide, and ozone. Human activities post-industrialisation have contributed to releasing these greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide is the longest-retained GHG in the atmosphere and the most talked about of the GHGs. It is released into the atmosphere by human activities like burning fossil fuels and biological materials like trees, bushes, etc. Research shows that It accounts for about 76% of emissions. About 40% of this gas remains in the atmosphere after 100 years and about 20% after 1000 years. Global temperatures are increasing due to the “blanketing of CO2″ in the atmosphere, hence the urgency to “take off this blanket trapping heat” (decarbonise) across all sectors.
Sectors that contribute to these emissions include:
Transport sector: This sector contributes the highest to GHG emissions worldwide as many cars, trucks, planes, ships, and trains rely heavily on fossil fuels, primarily gasoline and diesel.
Power Sector: Electricity generation worldwide depends on burning fossil fuels, primarily coal, oil and natural gas. These sources of fuel for power contribute to GHG emissions.
Agriculture, forestry and land use: Farming and agriculture release a significant amount of greenhouse gases, particularly nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), into the atmosphere. Deforestation for land use reduces carbon sinks and exposes the land to the harsh impact of climate change.
Industries: Industries contribute significantly to greenhouse emissions from burning fossil fuels for energy to facilitate industrial processes. The Industries cover cement production, steel, textile production, etc. Emissions are also released during industrial processes like mining, chemical processes, waste management, and mineral transformation.
At COP 27, the urgency to decarbonise was stressed. Governments and climate leaders put forward various commitments to decarbonise across sectors. Some of those commitments were;
- A roadmap to reduce methane emissions with a short-term focus on driving action through awareness campaigns, methane emission surveys, low capital project implementation and a rapid response program.
- A common call to promote the development and deployment of green hydrogen.
- Promoting climate investment to accelerate energy transition across low and middle-income countries in the next three years.
- A call and commitment to decarbonise industrial sectors.
The actions backing these commitments are worth looking out for Post-COP27.
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