Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
1. Clear policy frameworks aimed at fostering innovation and the demonstration,
scale up and roll out of low carbon technologies, including globally coordinated
investment frameworks linked to economic recovery, with the emphasis on
'green growth';
2. Developed countries should commit to a significant increase in investments for
research, development and deployment;
3. Technology sharing and financial support, through mechanisms such as globally
supported feed-in-tariffs for renewable energy, are required to help developing
countries leapfrog to a low carbon economy;
4. The establishment of “smart grids”—connecting renewable energy sources over
large areas and implementing novel energy storage technologies.
3.2.3
Delivering Tropical Forest Protection, Conservation and Restoration
Tropical forests provide the ecosystem services essential for human well-being and
poverty alleviation. In addition, deforestation and forest degradation are substan-
tially contributing to climate change and global biodiversity loss at the genetic, spe-
cies and landscape level. Both locally and globally, protecting boreal and tropical
forest cover is an essential tool for mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change.
Without a solution to rainforest protection, there is no solution to tackling climate
change.
An emergency package is needed
now
to provide substantial funding to tropical
forest nations to help them halt deforestation and embark on alternative economic
development paths, including:
1. Accelerating a long-term UNFCCC agreement on halting deforestation and on
forest restoration, including innovative financing mechanisms from public and
private sources;
2. Building capacity as well as mechanisms for verification and national gov-
ernance structures that can support and reward the maintenance of rainforest
regions. Developing countries need to take their own responsibility in tropical
forest protection, conservation and restoration.
3.3
The Contribution of Science
The solutions to the extraordinary environmental, economic and human crises of
this century will not be found in the political arena alone. Stimulated by the mani-
festo of Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein, the first Pugwash gathering of 1957
united scientists of all political persuasions to discuss the threat posed to civilization
by the advent of thermonuclear weapons. Global climate change represents a threat
of similar proportions, and should be addressed in a similar manner. There should
be an acceleration and integration of global sustainability studies, to encourage the
