Tiempo Climate Newswatch

"Poznań is the place where the partnership between the developing and developed world to fight climate change has shifted beyond rhetoric and turned into real action," claimed Maciej Nowicki, Polish environment minister, as the 2008 United Nations Climate Change Conference ended. Conference participants made a clear commitment to shift into full negotiating mode next year in order to meet the end-2009 deadline for the development of the next stage of the international response to climate change. It was agreed that emissions control commitments of the industrialized countries under a post-2012 treaty regime should principally take the form of quantified emission limitation and reduction objectives, as at present.

Work was completed on operationalizing the Adaptation Fund, which, as things stand, will be supported by a levy on the Clean Development Mechanism and voluntary contributions. It has been estimated that the Fund could be worth US$300 million a year by 2012, though the United Nations considers that tens of billions of dollars a year could be needed by 2030 to respond to climate impacts on developing nations. There was no agreement in Poznań on increasing support for the Adaptation Fund by applying levies on Joint Implementation and Emissions Trading. "The elephant in the room is still where the money for adaptation is going to come from," commented Barry Coates of Oxfam New Zealand. "We urgently needed a decision on increased future funding for adaptation, but we didn't get there." The conference did endorse a strategic programme on technology transfer through which the Global Environment Facility aims to leverage private investment in mitigation and adaptation technologies in developing countries.

"Governments have sent a strong political signal that, despite the financial and economic crisis, significant funds can be mobilized for both mitigation and adaptation in developing countries," said Yvo de Boer, head of the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. "We now have a much clearer sense of where we need to go in designing an outcome which will spell out the commitments of developed countries, the financial support required and the institutions that will deliver that support as part of the Copenhagen outcome," he continued. Others were less optimistic. "In the face of the unbearable human tragedy that we in the developing countries see unfolding every day, this is nothing but callousness, strategizing and obfuscation," said India's delegate, Prodipto Ghosh.

Small island states have proposed that global warming be capped at no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, challenging the European Union target of two degrees. "Two degrees is simply too high," said Leon Charles on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). "It is not a sector that needs to be adjusted - we are talking about the survival of countries," he continued. "We will be the canary in the coal mine. If we go, so will others," said Albert Binger, an adviser to the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre. "It is incumbent on our fellow citizens of the planet to keep the canary from dying." AOSIS is calling for the issue of insurance and compensation to be included in any future climate agreement.

Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, wants small island states to pursue adaptive measures and work towards global emissions reductions rather than "giving up" by considering relocation. Lisa Schipper at the Stockholm Environment Institute office in Bangkok, disagrees. "I do not know if I would say that it is 'giving up'," she said. "It is situation specific. If you are talking about a small island context there aren't that many options." According to Schipper, relocation "reflects the acknowledgement that there is a limit to how we can adapt. For the Pacific Islands, that is a serious issue but for other countries there might be more flexibility because they do not have to worry about their territories disappearing." de Boer considers that the fact that relocation is being seriously considered means that the climate treaty processes are not responding fast enough for vulnerable small island states.

Geothermal power capacity in East Africa is set to increase substantially. A pilot project in Kenya has demonstrated that geothermal is a viable and economic source of power, with the potential to generate 7,000 megawatts. "It's part of Africa's future," concludes Achim Steiner, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme. "Geothermal is 100 per cent indigenous, environmentally-friendly and a technology that has been under-utilized for too long." The project will extend to Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania in 2009 using the equipment and techniques piloted in Kenya.

The European Union (EU) has agreed a plan to meet its "20-20-20" targets - reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent and meeting 20 per cent of energy requirements from renewable sources by the year 2020. A series of compromises were necessary for agreement to be reached. For example, the degree to which emissions can be offset by sponsoring projects in developing countries was increased. The renewable commitment allows for a 2014 review of how national targets are allocated, though the overall 20 per cent goal cannot be altered at that time. A similar compromise regarding new emissions standards for vehicles was adopted recently. EU member states have also approved plans to phase out incandescent light bulbs by 2012. "This groundbreaking measure delivers a clear message about the EU's commitment to reach its energy efficiency and climate protection targets," said energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs. "By replacing last century lamps with more performant technologies, European homes will keep the same quality of lighting, while saving energy, carbon dioxide and money."