Many say the first week of the COP15 (Fifteenth Conference of the Parties) to the UNFCCC was relatively slow in advancing towards the necessary deal to limit greenhouse gases. This week is the second and last. On Thursday and Friday, around 110 world leaders will be gathering to discuss and decide what joint strategy is to be enforced.
One of the main problems these past days in Copenhagen had to do with the differences between developed and developing countries. Developed countries want a deal that includes and, in a way, surpasses the Kyoto Protocol by making both the rich and the poor limit their greenhouse gas emissions; whereas developing nations (mainly African countries) want to extend the Kyoto Protocol (that only binds industrialized nations), and create a new deal for the poor.
Yesterday, African nations demanding more commitment toward Kyoto, boycotted the main session of climate talks, just before noon. But thanks to informal talks with the COP presidency, negotiations were resumed.
On the other hand, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon wisely suggested negotiators to get their job done, and not to leave “tough issues” to world leaders, because this might bring about a defective deal, or no deal at all.
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US President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and in his acceptance speech he emphasized the need for fighting climate change. He mentioned that from scientists and environmental activists to military leaders, the knowledge that “our common security hangs in the balance” is widespread.
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100 nations are demanding more ambitious targets in terms of combating climate change. Among these, the 43-member alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) is particularly concerned about the effect rising sea levels can have on them. The least developed countries (LDCs) and
the AOSIS support the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees temperature rise. This would require at least a 45% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by rich nations, from 1990 levels by 2020. -
A new draft, the “Copenhagen Accord” has surfaced, prepared by China, India, South Africa and Brazil, the four major emerging economies. The draft suggests that rich countries should reduce their emissions by more than 40% compared to 1990 levels, and that the Kyoto Protocol should include a “binding” amendment. The draft was posted by French newspaper “Le Monde” in its website. The “Copenhagen Accord” aims at keeping temperatures from increasing more than two degrees compared to pre-industrial levels. An interesting proposal is that emissions reductions should be achieved “mainly through domestic measures” and not so much through paying for offsetting in other countries.
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The fifteenth meeting of the UNFCCC members in Copenhagen, Denmark, started this Monday. It will last two weeks, and will determine the future of our planet. The world leaders gathered there have humanity’s future in their hands. The transcendence of this conference cannot be undermined.
Below we present some of the selected main news of these past two days’ progress.
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UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has shown his optimism that a strong agreement
to fight climate change can be reached in Copenhagen. “From all corners of the globe we see unprecedented momentum for a deal… I’m encouraged and I’m optimistic.” -
An alleged Danish draft proposal for climate initiatives was published by British newspaper The Guardian. Apparently, developing nations are not exactly thrilled with the draft’s content.
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A study released yesterday claims that between 25 million and one billion people might have to leave their homes in the next four decades, due to natural disasters. However, few of them might be able to do so, because of a lack of the necessary means to move to more secure places. The study is from the International Organization for Migration. It adds that in recent years, the “number of people affected by natural disasters has more than doubled”.
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We have already analyzed the tools being developed by the Sustainability Institute. This organization has created interactive simulation models that help people in charge of environmental decision-making.
Now the Sustainability Institute has released the Climate Scoreboard, which aims to keep citizens updated on the daily progress made in Copenhagen, and how negotiations will impact on our future.
The Climate Scoreboard is a widget that can be embedded to any webpage, blog or social media. It is updated regularly to include news from Copenhagen. It shows how proposals made in the conference will most likely affect the future climate.
Above is the embedded widget. The yellow “business-as-usual” line stands for the expected temperature increase that might take place by 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced.
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