With the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Santa Fe becomes the first province in Argentina to commit itself to the objectives proposed by the World Organization Under2 MOU: reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) for 2050, which will limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius.
In addition, this agreement establishes that "in order to achieve the goals of GHG emissions, the participants will promote significant improvements in their energy efficiency and a comprehensive development of renewable energies". The province has already begun with the actions that are attained from the Secretary of State for Energy.
In this regard, Geese explained, "The participants proposed their strategies for the implementation and achievement of their goals" and recalled, "From the province we have already called for investments in renewable energies projects to accompany industries, companies and producers interested in using their waste and effluents that contaminate the environment to generate energy. We also advise those who want to invest in projects to take advantage of solar and wind energy. "
The Secretary of State also stressed, "These policies are fundamental to improve the quality of life and health of the Santafesinos by reducing emissions of polluting gases into the environment. Treating waste to generate energy we avoid contact with toxic agents that make us sick and have a high cost to public health. "
Meanwhile, the under Secretary of Renewable Energies, Maximiliano Neri, anticipated that in the coming days the details of the Inventory of Greenhouse Gases to be held in the province along with the Ministry of the Environment will be presented.
He said also that together with the Ministry of Labour they are "making trainings to generate the necessary labour in the development of bio-energies and green economies, which allow us to complete the ecosystem of renewable energies adding value to Primary Productions ".
Neri pointed out, "Santa Fe is on the right track, as we implement pioneering programs in renewable energies in the country, among them, Prosumers, Energy Education and Production + Energy, which are taken as an example by other provinces. "
ATTENDEES
In signing of the Memorandum, which was held at the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), also were present the Director of Planning and Research and Public Policy Advisor to the Governor of California, Ken Alex; The project coordinator of the Under2 Coalition, Taryn Akiyama; and the intergovernmental relations responsible for the CalEPA, Heather Hickerson.
WHAT IS "UNDER2 MOU"?
The Cooperation Agreement on Global Leadership in Climate Change, called "Under2 MOU", is an initiative through which sub-national Governments commit to adopt emission reduction in accordance with the best science available and thus contribute to increase the level of international ambition at the Paris Conference on Climate Change (COP21).
Each member of the Agreement approves to reduce emissions between 80 and 95 percent for 2050, below 1990 levels; or to make per capita emissions below two metric tons. This is the level of emissions reduction that is deemed necessary to limit the average temperature rise to less than 2 °c by the end of this century.
LATIN AMERICAN STATES THAT SIGNED THE MOU
Argentina: Province of Santa Fe
Brazil: Acre, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Pernambuco, Rondônia, Sao Paulo City, Sao Paulo State, and Tocantins
Chile: Santiago
Colombia: Guainía and Guaviare
Mexico: Aguascalientes, Baja California, Chiapas, Hidalgo, Jalisco, City of Mexico, State of Mexico, Michoacán, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Yucatán
Peru: Loreto, San Martín and Ucayali.
