Powerful leaders focused on climate change for good reason: U.S. Congressman

Climate change is drawing the attention of the world's most powerful leaders for good reason, Eliot Engel, member of the U.S. House of Representatives told the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament here Tuesday.

"This is an issue drawing the focus of powerful leaders for good reason: climate change is a threat to security and prosperity around the world," said Engel.

World leaders are currently in the process of making commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also preparing for the upcoming Paris Climate Summit in December 2015, said Engel.

"Leaders from across the globe are preparing to come together for climate talks in Paris," he said.

Since nobody from the United States was listed to speak at the world conference, which entered its second day here Tuesday, Engel's presence was a surprise to many participants.

"(In December 2014), 196 governments committed to developing plans to address greenhouse gas emissions," said Engel. "As of Friday more than 50 countries accounting for 70 percent of global emissions had submitted those plans."

Engel gave examples from the U.S., the European Union (E.U.) and China.

"Greenhouse gas emissions from the United States will be more than 25 percent lower in the year 2025 than they were in 2005."

"The E.U. intends to reduce its emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and China's emissions will peak by 2030," he said.

While there were finally signs that global climate emissions had stopped increasing the effects of climate change were also worrying, Engel added.

"Last year for the first time the global economy grew but global carbon emissions didn't," said Engel.

"Last month was the hottest month in recorded history. Last year was the hottest year in recorded history," he said. "This problem is real, it's getting worse and we have a responsibility to respond."

In July, China made fresh pledges on fighting climate change, setting out ambitious targets beyond 2020 in what it calls its "utmost efforts" in tackling the global challenge.

The world's largest greenhouse gas emitter aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) by 60 percent to 65 percent from the 2005 level by 2030, according to China's intended nationally determined contributions (INDC), an action plan submitted to the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

That goal will be a big step further from China's previous emission control target, which eyes a decrease of 40 percent to 45 percent from the 2005 level by 2020.

In 2014, carbon emissions per unit of GDP was 33.8 percent lower than the 2005 level. Enditem