As part of the effort to fight global climate change, the White House has identified 16 U.S. cities cutting carbon pollution through everyday acts.
Cities such as Boston are taking steps that can be replicated around the world as it commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions 10 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. Even small towns such as Oberlin, Ohio, have developed aggressive plans to reduce emissions by collaborating with local universities, the utility industry and nonprofits.
In an international effort to combat climate change, President Obama and China’s President Xi Jinping recently made a historic announcement of their countries’ targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions after 2020.
President Obama has said that he is part of the first generation to experience the alarming effects of a rapidly changing climate. He has asked other leaders to confront the problem “while we still can.”
In Lima, Peru, the United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is becoming the cornerstone for the world’s commitment to a more sustainable future. The annual Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC is assessing the efforts of 198 member countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This year’s session (COP-20) is setting the stage for next year’s meeting in Paris, which is expected to result in a legally binding agreement from all the nations to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius.
“Climate negotiations have been going on in one way or another for over 20 years now, and they are always fraught with peril. But we have a real opportunity now to do something important,” said Todd Stern, the U.S. special envoy for climate change.
Through December 12, the U.S. Center at UNFCCC will feature demonstrations and discussions, such as glacier management and businesses addressing climate risk. Initiatives and scientific research are being live-streamed from COP-20.