線上雙語知識平台

從今天開始，聯合國首次把二氧化碳排放和材料足迹納入了人類發展指數(Human Development Index) 裏，讓氣候行動變成衡量國家發展進度的其中一個重要指標。

不過，國家在綠色發展進度方面表演各異，仍需加強環境保護措施。

「聯合國開發署表示，在加入新指標後，有50多個國家因為高度依賴化石燃料和材料足跡而掉出了“高發展水平”的行列，但哥斯達黎加、摩爾多瓦和巴拿馬等在環境保護方面做出突出成績的國家，排名都有30名以上的大幅提升」。材料足跡是指為滿足最終消費需求而提取的原材料總量。

最新估計更加顯示，到2100年，全球最貧困國家每年遭遇極端氣候的天數最多將增加100天。可是，若《巴黎協定》的目標（把全球平均氣溫升幅控制在工業革命前水準以上低於2℃之內 ）可以全面落實，這個數字將能減少一半。現在，70%最容易遭受氣候變化影響的國家正正是在經濟及政治層面上最脆弱的國家。

在幾天前的氣候雄心峰會視像會議上，即巴黎氣候協定的第五周年，聯合國都呼籲各國宣布進入「氣候緊急狀態」。巴西、澳洲等碳排放國家因對氣候行動的承諾不夠遠大，沒有取得發言資格。

儘管如此，這次會議亦目睹一些國家對環境保護作出新的承諾，包括巴基斯坦和以色利將逐步淘汰燃煤發電廠。

[Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action]

Starting from today, the United Nations has, for the first time, integrated carbon dioxide emissions and material footprint into the Human Development Index (HDI), taking climate action as one of the important indicators in measuring national development.

However, countries have varied performances in terms of green development progress and are still in need to enhance environmental protection measures.

“The United Nations Development Program claimed that after adding in the new indicators, 50 countries have fallen out of the “high development level” due to their high dependence on fossil fuels and material footprints. However, Costa Rica, Moldova, and Panama are all involved in environmental protection.” Material footprint refers to the reserve of raw materials extracted to meet final consumption needs.

The latest estimates show in more detail that by 2100, the world’s poorest countries will experience up to 100 more days of extreme weather each year. However, if the goal of the Paris Agreement (limiting the global average temperature rise above the pre-industrial level below 2°C) can be fully realized, this number will be reduced by half. Now, 70% of the countries most vulnerable to climate change are the most vulnerable economically and politically.

At the virtual Climate Ambition Summit 2020 on the 5th anniversary of the Paris climate agreement a few days ago, the United Nations called upon all countries to declare a “state of climate emergency”. Carbon-emitting countries such as Brazil and Australia are not qualified to participate, due to their lack of commitment to climate action.

Nevertheless, this meeting also witnessed new commitments made by some countries to environmental protection, including Pakistan and Israel’s commitments to phase out coal-fired power plants.