Which Countries Stand to Gain the Most Co-Benefits From their National Climate Action Plans (INDCS) Towards the Paris Agreement
12 October 2015
- As well as bending the curve from around 4degC to 2.7degC expected temperature rise, having a transformative impact and accelerating the development of stronger climate policies, the INDCS lodged so far unlock a range of benefits for their people. When these national plans to move away from fossil fuels are realized, they will save lives due to improved air quality, save money thanks to avoided fossil fuel imports and they will create green jobs.
- New research from the NewClimate Institute – commissioned by Climate Action Network and the Global Call for Climate Action – has shown that different countries will tap varying levels of these benefits with their national plans due to come in to effect in 2020:
- China will save the most lives with their INDC, with 75 per million people not dying prematurely every year as a result of reduced air pollution. Also benefiting significantly from moving away from fossil fuels are Chile (31) and South Africa (25).
- Chile will save the most money from avoided fossil fuel imports, banking USD146 per person annually, followed by South Africa at USD78 and Japan at USD67 a head.
- The United States will create the most jobs with their INDC, harnessing a massive 1321 positions in the renewable energy sector per million people, followed by South Africa on 930, followed by China and Chile on 354 and 353 respectively.
- As climate action is scaled up over time, more benefits will be unlocked. Countries who stand to gain the most benefits from scaling up their current INDCS to be inline with a vision for 100% renewable energy by mid century:
- India could save an additional 862 lives per million people each year when it scales up action, followed by China on 778 and Japan with 125.
- The US stands to bank the most cash by scaling up, with an additional USD450 per head going into the coffers every year thanks to avoided fuel bills, followed by the EU on USD267 and Japan with USD208.
- China could create an additional 990 jobs in the renewable energy sector per million people if it scales up action, followed and the EU and Japan where a 681 and 558 jobs would be added per million people.
To see the absolute numbers of achieved co-benefits per country, please go to the NewClimate Institute website and check out the full reports behind this ranking.
A note on methodology: Countries assessed were: the EU, China, the US, Chile, South Africa, Canada, India and Japan. The co-benefits ranking is based upon the calculation methodologies detailed in NewClimate Institute (2015). These methodologies assess the benefits that would be achieved by the countries’ INDCs in 2030 compared to a current policies scenario, as well as the additional “missed” benefits that would be possible if the countries were to embark on a trajectory for 100% renewable energy by 2050, thus in line with keeping global warming below 2°C and possibly even 1.5°C. The benefits were assessed with regards to three major indicators: cost savings from fossil fuel imports including coal for the power sector, oil for the transport sector and natural gas for all sectors; prevention of premature deaths from air pollution, including all-cause premature mortality associated with concentrations of ambient PM2.5 concentrations; and, job creation through domestic renewable electricity installations, including jobs for manufacturing, construction, operation and maintenance for solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and biomass electricity installations. In these charts, the results are presented on a per capita basis in order to compare the respective impacts of each potential benefit across the countries, relative to their population sizes. Per capita calculations are based upon the projected populations in each country in 2030, according to the World Bank Health Nutrition and Population Statistics. In the case that countries’ INDCs included a target range, or multiple targets for emission reductions, the outcomes for the most ambitious targets are presented in this analysis to positively demonstrate the potential benefits that such a level of ambition could accrue.
For more information or for an interview with a spokesperson, please contact:
Ria Voorhaar
Head – International Communications Coordination
Climate Action Network – International (CAN)
mobile: +49 157 3173 5568
skype: ria.voorhaar
Annexe:
Actual Co-Benefits Figures By Country
|
Country |
Annual cost savings from reduced fossil fuel imports (USD) |
Annual prevented premature deaths from ambient air pollution |
Jobs created in renewable energy |
|||
|
Achieved |
Potential |
Achieved |
Potential |
Achieved |
Potential |
|
|
Canada |
0 |
0 |
100 |
800 |
3,000 |
8,000 |
|
Chile |
2,900,000,000 |
5,300,000,000 |
700 |
1,500 |
7,000 |
11,000 |
|
China |
0 |
190,000,000,000 |
100,000 |
1,200,000 |
500,000 |
1,900,000 |
|
EU |
33,000,000,000 |
170,000,000,000 |
6,000 |
46,000 |
70,000 |
420,000 |
|
India |
2,800,000,000 |
197,500,000,000 |
28,000 |
1,300,000 |
50,000 |
675,000 |
|
Japan |
8,000,000,000 |
33,000,000,000 |
1,500 |
16,500 |
0 |
67,000 |
|
South Africa |
5,000,000,000 |
7,000,000,000 |
1,500 |
2,700 |
60,000 |
85,000 |
|
United States |
0 |
160,000,000,000 |
7,000 |
27,000 |
470,000 |
650,000 |
Source: NewClimate Institute
