Iowa Ag Connection - Stanley Foundation Commits to Ambitious Climate Change Goal

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Stanley Foundation Commits to Ambitious Climate Change Goal
Iowa Ag Connection - 05/02/2016

The Stanley Foundation announced that its climate change programming will be committed to driving worldwide cooperation on an unprecedented global goal to limit average temperature increases to just 1.5 degrees Celsius (1.5C or 2.7F) above preindustrial levels. The foundation's climate change work will focus on pushing the international community well beyond pledges made in Paris last December to curb global climate change.

"The Paris Agreement calls for all nations to take steps to hold the increase in global warming to well below 2.0C," said Keith Porter, president and CEO of the Stanley Foundation, a global peace and security advocacy organization. "However, the actual contributions pledged by individual countries in Paris may not even limit warming to 3.0C, which would be a disastrous result. Much more dramatic action is needed and it is needed now," said Porter.

Fortunately, more than 100 nations pushed for a more ambitious target at the Paris conference. That goal, adopted unanimously as part of the full agreement, says the world will also "...pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change."

"We see achievement of this goal as essential to global peace and security for future generations. That's why in our programming we will be pushing stakeholders at all levels to identify and pursue the necessary transformational pathways to limit temperature increases to 1.5C," added Porter

The new focus of the foundation's climate change programming will include engaging key stakeholders in fast-start dialogue and special initiatives at multiple levels. While the cooperation of national governments is essential, the foundation will also pursue the active collaboration of sub- and nonstate actors. Collectively, the program elements are designed to inspire policy development and action to advance the determination and pursuit of transformational pathways necessary to reducing and removing greenhouse gas emissions to make the 1.5°C target achievable.

"We are excited to put our organizational skills to work on the crucial action that will need to be taken by all stakeholders," said Todd Edwards, Stanley Foundation program officer for climate change. "We will quickly move in to the work starting with events around the upcoming Bonn Climate Change Conference."

Selection of the Stanley Foundation's new climate change policy goal is the result of extensive analysis of climate change issues and input from leading world climate experts. A report about the process and results is available here.

"Given what is at stake with the effects of climate change, it is clear that the 1.5°C goal is vital to human survival, and we believe the foundation has a unique role to play in helping the world reach that objective," Edwards said.

The Stanley Foundation advances multilateral action to create fair, just, and lasting solutions to critical issues of peace and security. The foundation's work is built on a belief that greater international cooperation will improve global governance and enhance global citizenship. The organization values its Midwestern roots and family heritage as well as its role as a nonpartisan, private operating foundation.

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