聯合國政府間氣候變遷小組2007年的第三份,也是最後一份報告在4日公布。各國在曼谷召開會議,逐條檢閱報告內容。這份報告將顯示,若對全球暖化不採取任何因應措施,所要付出的代價必將高於立刻採取行動。世界保育基金會(WWF)認同此一結論,且發表了15項遏止氣候變遷方法的報告。
WWF全球氣候變遷計劃主持人福默爾(Hans Verolme)認為,「立刻採取行動來減緩氣候變遷,才能為民眾及企業帶來實質的益處與保障。」他說:「地球正在發燒,不過人們與世界保育基金會不懈地齊力改善地球的狀況;換言之,人類因為全球暖化已經付出太多慘痛的代價,唯有起身行動,才可避開未來災難的威脅。」
WWF氣候行動之一是新的碳足跡信用卡,由荷蘭最大的商業銀行Rabobank所發行,這張信用卡現在有110萬使用者。
銀行表示,經過特殊發展出的計算方法,將購買物的總CO2排放量轉換成金額,例如加油比買花排放更多的CO2。如此一來,銀行對於氣候計畫將有所貢獻,得以抗衡溫室效應氣體排放的效應。
「黃金標準」能源計畫,是由WWF在開發中國家發展的永續能源計畫品質標準,這張信用卡就是藉由這個計畫,來協助達成所有購買行為的碳補償。各個不同的夥伴機構所進行的活動,都經由外部認證機構認可。
在泰國,WWF為促使再生能源在泰國興起,其中一個合作計畫就是進行有關「非常小型能源製造商」的修正法案,以因應排放問題及燃煤發電廠產生的其他污染。
2006年泰國國家能源政策議會通過WWF贊助的修正案法案,通過私人的再生能源公司製造1到10兆瓦電力售給供電系統。這是泰國第一次允許電力供應權力釋出,以及允許小型的電力製造商成立,而其中不乏再生能源的佼佼者。
泰國再生能源專家蓬比博(Wanun Permpibul)說:「泰國對煤的開發計畫抗爭有很長一段時間了,尤其是南邦省居民對抗梅摩(Mae Moh)燃煤火力發電廠。發電廠對鄰近地區的衝擊,特別是污染及對公共衛生的危害特別顯著。非常小型能源製造商可增加能源供應,以及阻止新的燃煤火力發電廠興建,這將有助於限制氣候變化,以及保護公共健康和地方環境。」
The third and final report this year by the UN's intergovernmental climate panel is set for release on Friday. Now undergoing a line-by-line review by governments meeting in Bangkok, the report is expected to show that the cost of doing nothing about global warming is higher than the cost of taking action. WWF agrees and has issued a report detailing 15 ways to stop climate change.
"Taking action brings real savings and other benefits to consumers and businesses while preventing dangerous climate change," says Hans Verolme, director of WWF's Global Climate Change Programme. "The planet is running a fever and people are working with WWF to cool it - global warming is costing us dearly already but by acting now we can avoid future calamities."
One of the WWF's 15 climate actions is a new carbon footprint credit card issued by Rabobank, the largest commercial bank in the Netherlands. The card is now used by 1.1 million customers.
A specially developed calculation method is used to convert the total carbon dioxide, CO2, emission of purchases into a cash amount, says the bank. For example, filling up with gasoline equals a greater emission of CO2 than buying flowers. The bank then makes a contribution to climate projects to combat the effects of greenhouse gas emissions.
The card helps offset the full life-cycle carbon footprint of all purchases through Gold Standard energy projects, a quality standard for sustainable energy projects in developing countries developed by WWF. All underlying activities from the different partners are validated by an external verifier.
In Thailand, as part of a coalition to trigger a renewable energy boom in Thailand, and counter CO2 emissions and other pollution from coal power plants, WWF worked for an amendment to the Very Small Power Producers law.
The National Energy Policy Council approved the WWF-sponsored amendment last September. It allows private renewable power generators producing between one and 10 megawatts to sell their electricity into the grid system. For the first time this opens the Thai electricity grid for decentralized and small-scale power producers, of which many are likely to tap renewable sources.
"Thailand has a long history of fighting coal projects, especially by communities in the Lampang Province against the Mae Moh Coal Fired Power Plant. Impacts on the local communities, especially through pollution and public health, have been so obvious," says Wanun Permpibul, renewable energy expert in Thailand. "The very small power producers could help expand power supply and prevent new coal fired power plants. This helps limit climate change and also protects public health and the local environment."
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