What happens in terms of climate change beyond 2024 will be determined by the actions taken and decisions made by Conferences and by treaties and initiatives to measure, monitor and mitigate climate change.
The Conference of Parties
Otherwise known as COP, this is an annual meeting where global leaders discuss the current most imperative threats to climate change – and debate the best approaches on how to fix those specific problems, as well as other climate challenge issues around the world.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty that seeks to mitigate the detrimental effects of human activity – UNFCCC members, alongside other global leaders, attend the Conference of Parties every year to discuss our impact on climate.
Many feel that the COP conferences are talking shops that achieve nothing, yet COP 21 brought about the Paris Agreement; COP 27 helped to develop the ‘Loss and Damage Fund’ – aimed at financially supporting more vulnerable countries from the climate change damage on society – and COP 28 focused on climate-finance and global stocktake. It is expected that more of these issues will be discussed at next year’s COP 29, set to take place in Azerbaijan.
The Paris Climate Agreement
This is an international treaty that serves as the most vital global climate agreement to date, as it requires all countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions – even if they have not joined.
Agreement to reach net-zero emissions by 2050
Most organisations attempt to balance out the carbon and greenhouse gas emissions they are responsible for by investing in alternative carbon offsetting projects or purchasing carbon credits. These are used to achieve carbon neutrality but they don’t get down to the root of the problem, which is to establish more sustainable business practices that ultimately reduce the use of fossil fuels in the first place. Net-zero emissions isn’t enough to actually reduce the effects of climate change.
What actions can we take in 2024 to reduce climate change
The outlook for restabilising climate beyond 2024 looks grave but that doesn’t mean it is a lost cause. There are still many measures that can be implemented to improve things. The biggest action that companies, countries, and individuals around the world can do is strive to be ‘climate positive’ instead of merely transitioning to net-zero emissions. This means seeking to directly reduce their own carbon footprint rather than investing in carbon offsets to even out the amount of carbon emissions they produce. Being climate positive tackles the root of the problem that created climate change in the first place – excessive greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions. Being climate positive can also improve business endeavours – as investors, customers, and future employees alike will strive to collaborate with companies that actively seek ways to directly reduce climate impacts.
Businesses should seek to understand the economic benefits of shifting to an eco-friendlier business model, such as how using renewable energy sources can help to reduce business costs. Individuals can alter things in their typical daily routine to reduce emissions – like choosing greener transportation methods, plant-based diets, avoiding fast fashion or opting for sustainable clothing, shorter showers, turning off devices when not in use and using energy efficient devices.
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Pauline Meechan
Dukeries Eco Watch