On the tail of yet another year of climate disasters, 2022 ushers in the final version of the Paris Agreement, making it a functioning global climate treaty. But it alone can’t save us.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Nationally Determined Contribution
Displaying all articles
Strengthen commitments to reduce emissions by 2030, redouble efforts to raise climate finance and junk fossil fuel subsidies.
New Zealand’s international pledges, domestic laws and carbon budgets run on different timelines. They could be better aligned to make sure everyone understands how Aotearoa plans to cut emissions.
COP26 resulted in new climate commitments from countries across the world - here’s what they could mean for our future.
Uncertainty about carbon market rules will be problematic for New Zealand, given its reliance on overseas carbon trading to meet its new climate pledge.
In Paris, the French drafted ambitious texts and dared the biggest emitters to oppose it. In Glasgow, it’s the least developed countries which will have to do the most work.
New Zealand has announced a more ambitious pledge to cut emissions, but the commitment relies on buying credits from offshore. There is no system for doing this yet, or for ensuring genuine cuts.
A global emissions-credit trading system could bring an end to the production of coal-fired electricity, spur innovation and help countries meet their greenhouse gas emissions goals.
Pacific nations look to New Zealand for climate leadership. It has enshrined carbon neutrality by 2050 and a 1.5℃ target in law, but, so far, emissions have continued to rise.
Every five years nations must evaluate their progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement. But this “stocktake” lacks detail making it difficult to measure progress on climate action.
A year out from the postponed 26th UN conference, the UK held an online meeting to drum up goodwill for climate action.
Done right, offsetting projects can benefit local people and make a measurable difference to carbon emissions.
Our new study shows that cutting emissions now will bring benefits sooner than expected.
New Zealand is one of few countries to enshrine a zero-carbon goal in law, but current climate policies don’t keep up with that ambition.
Under the Paris Agreement, countries have registered plans to meet emissions reductions, but the current pledges, if fully realised, would take us to 2℃ by the 2050s.
Top contributors
-
Professor in Applied Mathematics, Massey University
-
Associate Professor of Law, University of Waikato
-
Professor of Teaching and Research in Environmental Biology, Edinburgh Napier University
-
Research Fellow in Industrial Decarbonisation Policy, University of Sussex
-
Professor of Physical Climate Change; Director of the Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds
-
Professor of Political Science and Co-Director Environmental Governance Lab, University of Toronto
-
Professor of Physical Geography, Swansea University
-
Professor of Political Economy, University of Sheffield
-
Lecturer in Blue Carbon, Edinburgh Napier University
-
EY Distinguished Scholar in Global Mining Futures, University of British Columbia
-
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Atmospheric Science, University of Leeds
-
Graduate Research Assistant, Public Policy and Global Affairs School, University of British Columbia
-
Invited User
-
PhD Candidate in Public Health, University of Guelph
-
Assistant Professor, School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo
