Tiempo Climate Newswatch

Four benchmarks for success during the Copenhagen climate negotiations in December have been laid out by Ban Ki-moon, United Nations secretary-general. First, all countries, whether developed or developing, must do all they can to cut emissions from all sources. Second, "a successful deal must strengthen the world’s ability to cope with an already changing climate," he said, stressing that "support for adaptation is not only an ethical imperative; it is a smart investment in a more stable, secure world." Third, funding must be provided to enable poorer nations to move to a low-carbon economy. Finally, there must be an equitable global governance structure. "All countries must have a voice in how resources are deployed and managed. That is how trust will be built."

While Yvo de Boer, the head of the climate treaty secretariat, is cautioning that it is "physically impossible to finalize all the details of a treaty in Copenhagen," nations can and must agree on the political essentials there. de Boer defines the essentials as emissions cuts by the industrialized nations, efforts to be made by developing nations, climate aid and governance. "After Copenhagen we will need a technical process to work out all the details," he continued. A follow-up meeting in early 2010 has been proposed. There are concerns that any further delay will take too much pressure off the negotiations, particularly with regard to the unresolved position of the United States.

Meeting to discuss their position at the at the climate treaty negotiations in Copenhagen in December, African negotiators have declared that they will not accept a new agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol, nor will they accept the merging of the Protocol into a new pact. They are calling for the Kyoto Protocol to be extended to cover a second and further commitment periods.

The African negotiators want see a separate legal instrument stemming from the Bali Action Plan: "a fair, inclusive, effective and equitable new agreement... that will benefit the climate and vulnerable countries and that will be undertaken in the context of poverty eradication, sustainable development and the need for gender equity." Compensation is sought from the industrialized nations, who are held responsible for the climate problem, in the form of new, sustained and scaled-up finance required for adaptation and risk management. Speaking recently at a Nigerian government inter-ministerial conference in Abuja, Peter Tarfa from the Federal Ministry of the Environment said that "developing countries are seeking between US$200 billion and US$400 billion [a year] as compensation."

European Union leaders met in Brussels last week to discuss climate assistance for developing nations. The Union is deeply divided over the matter. The Polish finance minister Jacek Rostowski, for example, regards it as "totally unacceptable that the poor countries of Europe should help the rich countries of Europe to help the poor countries of the world." Germany, heading the largest group, would like to see what commitment to action emerges from China and the United States before reaching a decision. The United Kingdom is prepared to pledge funds right away.

The European Commission has proposed a commitment of between two and 15 billion euros a year."We need to find a solution on financing, the internal burden-sharing," said Cecilia Malmström, Swedish European affairs minister. "We need to send a strong signal to the international negotiations," she continued. In the event, the European Union leaders proposed that the industrialized world as a whole should give developing nations up to 50 billion euros annually by the year 2020, with five to seven billion euros a year from 2010 to 2012 as "fast-start" finance, but failed, once again, to reach agreement on the contribution that the European Union will make.