The climate emergency

The Earth's climate is undoubtedly undergoing rapid and unprecedented change throughout the world. Every year, sad records are broken for maximum temperatures, hurricanes and extreme rainfall. It is more necessary than ever to take action in every country in the world, including here in Luxembourg!

WORLDWIDE

On the one hand, major storms and floods, and on the other, forest fires, drought and extreme heatwaves - these are the headlines we are facing with increasing regularity. The good news is that the political will to act is there, as was the case in 2015 at the World Climate Conference in Paris, where 195 countries committed themselves in writing to do everything possible to limit, if possible, the rise in temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. To give you an idea, the Earth's surface temperature has risen by 1.2°C compared with the pre-industrial era. That's why it's vital to achieve the goal of zero net emissions as quickly as possible, and to reduce emissions of gases that are harmful to the climate as much as possible. These are exactly the elements that have been included in the Paris agreements and in national plans, such as the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNEC) in our country.

Good to know: Politicians around the world are advised by over 200 scientists from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). In their climate report, they summarise the latest findings and data, along with their recommendations for action. Our country, Luxembourg, is represented on the IPCC by climatologist and meteorologist Andrew Ferrone.

The effect of half a degree :

1,5 °C and 2,0 °C

+3-4 °C +5 °C

Increasing temperature peaks in some parts of Europe.

11 % 21 %

Land areas at risk of flooding from rivers.

6 %18 %

Insect species that have lost more than half of their natural habitat.

IN EUROPE

In Europe too, measures have begun to be taken to act more delicately. The name « Green Deal »The Climate Action Plan brings together a range of policy initiatives aimed at making Europe climate neutral by 2050. All policy sectors need to work towards this goal and organise the economic transition in a fair and sustainable way. One of these initiatives is the set of proposals « Fit for 55 »(Adjustment to target 55). The number 55 refers to the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by around 55 % from 1990 levels by 2030. The package consists of proposals to revise existing laws as well as new proposals. In order to ensure a climate-friendly economic transition, the system of emission quotas, a central element of European climate policy, has been strengthened, and in the next stages this should also be extended to maritime and air transport. Additional measures concern taxation, such as a tax on paraffin for intra-European flights or the distribution of goods produced in third countries that are less climate-friendly.
The target of registering only climate-neutral vehicles from 2035, along with higher targets for the share of renewable energy and energy efficiency, should help to reduce emissions so that we can achieve the common goal of the Paris agreements.

30 %

of the resources of the IVDCI, the EU's neighbourhood, development and international cooperation instrument, are dedicated to promoting climate objectives and global public resources for climate protection and come from the EU and its Member States.

In Luxembourg

The effects of climate change are also clearly being felt in our country. We are experiencing long periods of drought, heavy flooding and warmer winters. The Luxembourg government is looking for solutions to combat this problem. To do so, it can draw on international decisions and agreements, such as the Paris climate agreement and European targets, as well as scientific data and facts from the UN climate report drawn up by the IPCC, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This group of experts has made it possible to implement some of the strategies defined in various plans:

PNEC

National energy and climate plan

NDPD

National Plan for Sustainable Development

Climate law

Law of 15 December 2020

In addition, there are numerous other initiatives designed to support and assist the government as it moves forward with the implementation of the measures defined. In our country, too, the focus is on reducing greenhouse gases:

55 %

reduction by 2030 compared with 2005

35-37 %

of renewable energy in final consumption

Zero

net CO2 emissions by 2050 at the latest

Climate change as a work of art?

Climate scientist Ed Hawkins published his «warming stripes» for the first time in May 2018. These warming stripes show the glaring changes our climate has undergone in recent years. At first glance, they look like pretty bands of colour. But a second look reveals in a very simple way the huge gap that has opened up in recent years between average temperatures and average annual temperatures around the world. Each band represents a year, and each year has been assigned a colour according to the size of the difference from the average temperature. The coldest temperature is in dark blue and the hottest in dark red. The first graph designed by Ed Hawkins symbolised average global temperatures. The graph shown here concerns Luxembourg. In the meantime, you can see the bands for any continent or country on this site.

Temperature change in Luxembourg

https://showyourstripes.info/b/europe/luxembourg/all

The climate emergency

WORLDWIDE

IN EUROPE

In Luxembourg

Climate change as a work of art?

Our initiatives