Paris Climate Treaty needs supply chain management support

When the Paris Climate Treaty is signed at the end of the week on “Earth Day,” air cargo and ocean cargo transport providers will not be among the players. This is despite the fact that both modes are responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions, note analysts.

The treaty, to be signed by more than 100 countries at the United Nations in New York, will no doubt hear from
governments and advocacy groups pressuring these industries to take stronger steps to curb pollution.

Among them is Nigel Purvis is the founding President and CEO of Climate Advisers, a Washington, DC-based consultancy specializing in U.S. climate change policy, international climate change cooperation, global carbon markets, and climate-related forest conservation.

In a recent opinion piece posted on the Climate Advisers site, he noted that this may be one of the biggest foreign policy wins of the Obama presidency. Whereas dismantling Al Qaeda helped neutralize a short term global threat of terrorism, the Paris agreement helps address the serious long term threat from climate change.

“Following so closely after the horrendous Paris terrorist attacks, the Paris conference witnessed the emergence of an historic alliance between developed and developing countries, working in solidarity to secure an ambitious outcome that will help safeguard our future and the wellbeing of our children,” said Purvis. “On climate, President Obama will go down in history not just as the first to reduce U.S. climate pollution but also the first to forge a new framework that ensures action by all nations.”

Purvis observed that by recognizing the need to eliminate climate pollution in the second half of the century, countries have forged an international agreement that is true to climate science. The Paris conference has created an essential framework for ambitious international cooperation, while showing us how far we still have to go. The only way we can meet the Paris goals is by working together even more in the years ahead.

“These types of international partnerships will need to be greatly expanded and replicated in other economic sectors to meet the ambitious Paris goals,” added Purvis.

One hopes that supply chain enablers in both air and ocean sectors will also join that mission.