The historic Paris Agreement, which was agreed on Saturday, December 12th at the COP21 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, France, includes nearly 200 nations and several bold provisions that aim at reducing net global carbon emissions to zero by 2050 (where greenhouse gas sinks are sufficient to absorb sources (natural and human caused)). It also includes a climate change temperature target of 1.5 degrees, more ambitious than the 2 degrees target many expected in the lead up to the talk.
The conference, which aims for a binding agreement among nations on keeping global warming in check, comes amid an energy landscape increasingly moving away from fossil fuels and embracing renewable energy, offering investors opportunities if they know where to look. The agreement targets emissions from fossil fuels directly, as the energy is responsible for 65 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, whether from coal, gas, and petrol electricity generation, transportation, or industrial use
It is very clear that in order to avoid the worst possible impacts of climate change and keep global temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius we need to completely phase out fossil fuels. In order to get the word out and get everyone on board and up to speed a break free from fossil fuels campaign was started to run from 4th to 15th may. The break free 2016 is a two week global wave of action aimed at keeping coal, oil and gas in the ground by confronting polluters and demanding the shutting down of coal mines as well as holding big firms accountable for funding and profiting from climate change.
The world over is turning red with passion, courage and hope for a better cleaner world as we transition to 100% renewable energy.
Put pressure to end fossil fuel era
Among the 300 in the UK demanded for the shutting down of a large coal mine, while 10000 Philippines gathered demanding an end to coal, and hundreds in New Zealand held banks accountable for funding and profiting from climate change, hundreds of Australians also demanded for shutting down of a coal port using kayaks, canoes and homemade rafts, while in Nigeria many were demanding an end to fossil fuel extraction. (See more actions here) It is very important for youth in developing countries like Indonesia to take to the streets and demand an end to fossil fuels because our health, education, welfare and housing are on the line.
Push leaders to quick action.
That means we the youth must take back power and ensure that our future government is listening to the right people. Polluters are desperate and will stand at almost anything to silence all talk against fossil fuels. We must there get government and political leaders on our side to ensure proper targets are set for the transition to a green energy future. This also means making certain that our government signs up to the Paris agreement making sure if follows the necessary political process so that it is successfully implemented.
Campaign for green energy
According to the REN21's Renewables Global Status Report (GSR 2015) moving to 100% renewable energy is a necessary step in achieving the goal of providing universal access to energy to billions of people by 2030. The IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources (SRREN) from 2011 acknowledged that “close to 80 per cent of the world’s energy supply could be met by renewables by mid-century if backed by the right enabling public policies”.
The fight against climate change is bigger than one company or one country. It’s bigger than all of us. And it’s no exaggeration to say that reaching a concrete, resilient and targeted agreement in Paris will determine the course of our planet’s future like never before. Already, commitments made by governments and the private sector demonstrate the growing momentum towards action. As youth we must strongly campaign for a just transition to 100% renewable energy and demand that green energy projects receive a lot of funding and support. We are hopeful that together, we can confidently and determinedly shape a better, greener, low-carbon future.