The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) analyzed the “intended nationally determined contributions” (INDCs) of the U.S., Mexico, and the E.U. in a report released Tuesday. These INDCs are proposed plans to tackle climate change that each country must submit ahead of the Paris climate talks, a conference with the goal of reaching a binding international agreement on climate change.
The UCS researchers found that, in the plans of the E.U. and U.S., there is “practically no mention of specific actions that they plan to take in the land sector.”
“It is disappointing to see the U.S. neglect to address emissions from agriculture and forestry — especially when the potential for reductions is so considerable,” Doug Boucher, director of UCS’s Tropical Forest and Climate Initiative, said in a statement.
Mexico, on the other hand, “goes into considerable detail, putting forth plans to reduce deforestation to zero by 2030, restore forests and other biomes, increase carbon capture, and give greater protection to coastal ecosystems.” Mexico is more transparent about how it will achieve these goals than the U.S. and E.U. are, the report states, laying out specific actions that it wants to take in order to reduce its land sector emissions.
This transparency, “particularly compared with the developed countries, virtually sets a standard,” according to the report.
In Mexico, deforestation has decreased by 55 percent over the last decade. But it’s still a problem in the country. Deforestation is a major contributor to climate change, emitting more than 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year, so tackling deforestation will help Mexico achieve its climate and conservation goals.
Read more at Researchers Call Out U.S. for Neglecting Emissions from Agriculture in Climate Plan
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