Editorial

Citation

Leal Filho, W. (2007), "Editorial", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 18 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/meq.2007.08318baa.001

Editorial

Welcome to another issues of MEQ. By the time this issues goes to press, the world is discussing the UN Climate Chance Conference in Nairobi and the release of a report which states that the world must act now to curb greenhouse gas emissions or face truly enormous costs from global warming in future, including world-wide recession and social upheaval.

The report, commissioned by the UK Government (available at: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/independent_reviews/stern_review_economics_climate_change/stern_review_report.cfm), was produced by a team of economists led by former World Bank chief economist Nicholas Stern. Its conclusions triggered immediate calls for stronger, more urgent actions to combat climate change across Europe and as far away as Australia. The Stern report concludes that the worst impacts of climate change could be avoided at a cost of 1 percent of global GDP per year by 2050 with action now. “Delaying action, even by a decade or two, will take us into dangerous territory,” it concludes. On the other hand, if greenhouse gas emissions continue increasing at their present rate, the cost could be 5-20 percent of GDP per year “now and forever”.

The report advocates stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations at 450-550 parts per million (ppm). Anything higher would substantially increase the risks of very harmful impacts, while only marginally reducing the costs of emission cuts, it concludes. On the other hand, aiming for an even lower peak in greenhouse gases would indeed produce unbearable costs and simply not be feasible, it concedes. Strong policy signals are needed to take full advantage of existing emission mitigation options, it continues. The report identifies three key policies to tackle rising emissions.

First, carbon must have a price on it, whether through emissions trading, tax or regulation. Second, there must be policy support for low-carbon technologies – these could be worth at least US$500bn by 2050 – and finally, barriers to energy efficiency improvements must be removed. An international consensus on long-term goals and a global framework for action is also needed, it concludes. Such a framework should include: widespread emissions trading, more investment and cooperation in research and development, action to reduce deforestation and measures to support adaptation.

MEQ will provide a contribution to the debate on climate change by also disseminating scientific studies in future issues and welcome submissions from suitably qualified scientists.

Enjoy your reading!

Walter Leal Filho