Only One Earth

1
Only One Earth

• Comments by Anders Wijkman, member of the
  European Parliament, at Closing Plenary of Green
  Week june 6th, 2008

2

• Climate Change and the Ecosystem Crisis will
  define the global agenda for generations to come.
• Climate Change more serious than previously
  thought to stay within the 2 degrees C. - goal
  emissions must start decline by 2015 and global
  GHG be cut by 80 by 2050
• Millenium Ecosystem Assessment in 2005 told us
  that 2/3 of the most important ecosystems -
  tropical forests, fisheries, soils, fresh-water
  resources etc - are used non-sustainably. That
  can truly not go on!
• What is worse, Climate Change adds pressure and
  reduces the buffer capacity of ecosystems!

3
(No Transcript)
4
The Planetary Response
The Planetary Response to global change drivers
(Steffen et al., 2004)
From Steffen et al. 2004
5
Human Pollinators
Apple plantations in Southern Chine
6
(No Transcript)
7
Rethink the way society is organized

• How to address issues that require systems
  solutions?
• Lisbon Strategy and Sustainable Development
  Strategy should merge
• Temp Committee on Climate Change a step in the
  right direction - What about the organisation of
  the EC?
• Science and Education also need to rethink - to
  give more focus on how things are interconnected
• Crucial Education of economists

8
Climate stabilisation will require swift action!

• Negotiations slow and remind of trench war
• Last year GHG increase largest ever
• All focus now on agreement for 2020, but that is
  too short-term perspective - not least for
  Business!
• To cut by 20-30 of GHG to 2020 is easy the
  challenge is to cut by 80-90 to 2050!
• To achieve that, all new investments in
  energy-intensive activities - which are long-term
  in nature - must be close to zero emissions from
  now on..

9
Climate stabilisation also requires to do away
with mistrust from the South

• Crash Program for technology cooperation,
  capacity building and co-financing
• Crash Program for adaptation and risk reduction
  in low-income countries
• Compensation Mechanism for Avoided
  deforestation
• Only if these issues are addressed will it be
  possible to call for emission targets for
  developing countires - which is a must!

10
Rethink the Economic Model

• Climate Change a huge market failure according to
  Nicholas Stern
• The same goes for the Ecosystem Crisis -
  ecosystem services have no value in the economic
  model
• The problem is that all the negative effects on
  the atmosphere and on ecosystems are outside the
  economic model guiding us
• It worked well when the external effects were
  small - but not any longer! And the problems
  accentuated by globalisation.
• We need a reform of the economic framework
• That can not be done by politicians alone -
  Business must help!
• It is in the interest of Business - the
  alternative would be a deepening climate and
  ecological crisis which will affect us all, also
  Business.

11
Some key proposals for economic reform

• Establish the boundary conditions for the
  life-supporting systems - develop policy
  instruments to make sure society stays within the
  boundaries!
• Beyond GDP - measure welfare in a more
  intelligent way
• PPP - let the polluter pay
• Give Natural Capital a value Financial Capital
  cannot substitute for Nature
• Most important today is to give standing
  tropical forests a value - how otherwise stop
  deforestation?
• Rethink discounting principle - it does not
  function when dealing w/ non-linear systems

12
Business models have to reform as well!

• It must be possible to earn a profit without
  volume expansion (which by definition requires
  more energy and materials) - there are limits!
• From products to services longevity!
• Integrated Product Policy - focus on materials
  sourced and better use of residue materials
• Resource productivity revolution
• Use Information and Communication Technology for
  sustainability
• Learn from Nature - Biomimicry

13
The Commission Energy and Climate Package

• Welcome step - but too little ambitious
• Focus for 2020 ought to be -30
• Add target for 2030 needed - -40 to -50
• Where is the energy efficiency proposal?
• How do we kick-start CCS?
• Biofuels criteria must be stricter
• Energy RD ought to double
• Cooperation and support for Action in developing
  countries very limited

14
The Commission SPC action plan

• Welcome first step in the form of enhanced
  efficiency, recycling and reuse, more proactive
  labelling, public procurement etc.
• But it will mainly buy time
• Rebound effects and growing populations and
  incomes will eat up efficiency gains
• Where is the innovative thinking, like turning
  products into services, learn from Nature,use ICT
  for dematerilsation, systems solutions, smart
  buildings, cut down on travel and meetings etc

15
To conclude

• The period of un-limited growth is over the main
  problem is not energy, rather how to manage
  ecosystems and biodiversity
• Solar-concentrated power offers great
  opportunities
• Incremental change will not do
• Move from quantity of growth to quality!
• Give Natural Capital a value
• More long-term and ambitious climate action plan
• Sust Production and Consumption policy requires
  more than just effieciency gains
• Global Contract to address climate change and
  ecosystem crisis