Klimakalender Einzelansicht

17.02.2016 - 17.02.2016
Diskussion

Building Resilience to Climate Change Challenges: Promoting Solutions Towards Sustainability and Growth

Climate change negatively impacts all areas, increasingly threatening the natural ecosystem and biodiversity. Heavy rain, heat waves, droughts and rising sea levels will become even more frequent unless further steps towards building resilience to climate change will be taken. According to the European Commission, between 1980 and 2011 floods affected more than 5.5 million people and caused direct economic losses of more than €90 billion. Human activities such as burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), deforestation, use of industrial fluorinated gases are increasing the greenhouse effect and thus represent some of the main sources for human-induced climate change. In this sense, CO₂ accounts for 64% of man-made global warming, being the greenhouse gas most often produced by human activity.

Addressing the issue of climate change is a key priority for the EU. To this regard, building on the 2020 Climate and Energy Package, the European Commission has introduced the 2030 Climate and Energy Package, which put forththree key targets, namely at least 40% cuts in greenhouse gas emissions (from 1990 levels), 27% share for renewable energy and 27% improvement in energy efficiency. To help achieve these aims, the EU has agreed that at least 20% of its budget for 2014-2020, as much as €180 billion, should be directed towards action focused on climate change prevention.

Additionally, in order to fight climate change, the UN adopted in 1992 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and later on in 1997 the Kyoto Protocol. The COP20-CMP10 took place in 2014, in Lima, where nations concluded by elaborating the elements of the new agreement, scheduled to be agreed in Paris in late 2015. COP21’s goal is to work towards a “Paris Climate Alliance” that would fight global warming by maintaining the surface temperature rise below 2°C and reducing GHG emissions by 40-70% by 2050. Moreover, the parties will discuss various solutions for financing the transition to low-carbon economies as well as supporting developing countries.

This international symposium will provide an invaluable opportunity to asses the current situation of the climate system and discuss possible solutions to tackle climate change challenges. Furthermore, the event will allow delegates to share best practices on preventing and managing possible climate change risks and consequences. The conference will support the exchange of ideas and encourage delegates to engage in thought-provoking topical debate.