DECEMBER 17 — The UN Climate Change Conference (COP 21) has been over, and out of everyone’s expectation, the nations had been able to reach an accord to contain the rise of the Earth’s temperature within two degrees Celsius.

President of the UN assembly Mogens Lykketoft said the agreement was like a resurgence for the human race while US president Barack Obama said it was the best timing to save our planet.

So, how much is two degrees Celsius?

Less than that, the polar icebergs will not melt and tiny island states will not be submerged. Massive droughts and floods will not ravage the world and severe food shortage could be avoided. The world will be safe and the human race can continue to survive on this planet.

Yes, this is our planet, and this is how we can save ourselves from extinction. Some say this is the final chance for us because if we allow the Earth to keep warming, the human race will be wiped out one day.

But, there is also a price we all have to pay.

By containing the temperature rise within two degrees Celsius, it is imperative that we drastically cut down the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide which are derived mainly from the burning of fossil fuels like petroleum, coal and natural gas.

From the moment Scottish engineer James Watt improved on the steam engine circa 1760, human beings have learned to use machines to help them do things their hands and feet could not do.

Since then people began to build factories, warm themselves up, use the electricity to light up their houses, produce automobiles... Their life has since completely transformed as they enjoy vastly improved living quality.

All this could not have been possible without fossil fuels.

Even though wind power, hydroelectricity, nuclear power and solar power have subsequently been developed, the world is still very much dependent on fossil fuels to maintain its current production capacity and lifestyle.

This holds true not only in developed countries, but more so in rapidly developing countries.

For the past two centuries, we have been burning uncontrolled amounts of fossil fuels and release carbon dioxide into our atmosphere, causing severe environmental consequences. The greenhouse gases released this way have caused the Earth to experience dramatic changes to its natural conditions, threatening the survival of the human race.

The Paris Accord eventually takes a more serious look at this predicament as nations vow to cut down carbon dioxide emissions to control the planet’s temperature rise.

The question is, the two degrees Celsius goal means the world must be ready to forsake its existing way of living evolving mainly around the burning of fossil fuels. Under the existing circumstances, we have yet to find a more practical and economical alternative to fossil fuels.

As such, even if an accord has been achieved, and a carbon-reducing timetable set, nations are still expected to carry on as usual to meet the needs of their people and economic developments.

The accord has no legal binding to enforce carbon reduction on governments, requiring instead that individuals countries contribute in accordance with their respective standards.

This will put many governments in a dilemma. On the one hand they want to do their bid to help save our planet but on the other hand, they want more economic development so that their people can live better lives in future.

Affluent EU states have the ability to modify their energy use patterns but China and India, the two giant greenhouse gas emitters, will have difficulty to remain competitive if fossil fuel consumption is drastically slashed.

Other developing countries have to struggle to feed their people first before they would think of saving the planet.

While the Paris Accord manifests mankind’s will to save themselves, to really do this takes a lot of courage, willpower and determination. — Sin Chew Daily

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.