WMU welcomes the historic agreement to combat climate change that was agreed in Paris on 12 December (‘‘Paris Agreement’‘) in which 195 Nations set path to keep temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius.
Furthermore, the International Maritime Organization, the International Chamber of Shipping and European Shipowners have already
“I am delighted that 195 countries have agreed on this historic Climate Agreement,” said Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, WMU’s President. “These countries have now joined together to create a binding agreement to keep the global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius, and have committed to make every effort to limit the rise even more stringently, to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Considering the challenges facing humanity, this is a much needed starting point, which will be aided by the stronger action by the developed countries to offer assistance to the States most at risk from the consequences of climate change. WMU will play its part by offering high-level education that would include the Paris Climate Agreement. It will also undertake the required research and capacity-building to ensure that the entire maritime and ocean community are capacitated to play their part to meet the commitments made in Paris.”
There is also a very important link between the Climate Agreement and the UN 2030 Agenda concerning the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goals 7 and 14 with commitments relating to the Oceans, Energy efficiency and renewable energy. Along with innovative technologies, they will be the key pillars towards achieving the targets set by Paris Agreement.
WMU has just introduced two new specializations within the Master of Science programme – Ocean Sustainability, Governance & Management and Maritime Energy Management – which will make immediate and direct contributions to the goals and principles laid out in the Paris Agreement of 12 December. The ocean and the ocean environment play a crucial part in any climate issue, and are thus a pillar of all WMU’s teaching and research.
The Paris Agreement and the outcomes of the UN climate conference (COP21) cover all the crucial areas identified as essential for a landmark conclusion:
- Mitigation – reducing emissions fast enough to achieve the temperature goal
- A transparency system and global stock-take – accounting for climate action
- Adaptation – strengthening ability of countries to deal with climate impacts
- Loss and damage – strengthening ability to recover from climate impacts
- Support – including finance, for nations to build clean, resilient futures
Source: WMU / Image Credit: UFCCC
