Tiempo Climate Newswatch

African nations focused the agenda of the Barcelona Climate Change Talks on ambitious emissions cuts for the industrialized nations by walking out of the meeting. They ended the boycott after one day when extra time was devoted to emissions targets. "The position we have taken is in no way intended to block the progress, but to ensure we have ambitious numbers," said Pa Ousman Jarju from the Gambian delegation. "Their move leaves Africa in a much stronger position. So far Africa has not been recognized in the talks at all," said Saleemul Huq of the International Institute for Environment and Development, based in London. "It's really good that the Africans have finally been able to stand up together," commented Fiona Musana of Greenpeace Africa. "That sends a strong signal."

The Barcelona meeting was the final negotiating session before the crucial United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December. Progress was made towards a legally-binding agreement, particularly in the areas of adaptation, technology cooperation, reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries and mechanisms to disburse funds for developing countries. There was no resolution, however, regarding the issue of emission targets for developed countries nor any commitment on the amount of financial support for developing countries. "Without these two pieces of the puzzle in place, we will not have a deal in Copenhagen," said Yvo de Boer from the climate treaty secretariat, "So leadership at the highest level is required to unlock the pieces," he continued.

China has again opposed the view that developing nations should take on emissions control commitments at the Copenhagen climate talks. Ma Zhaoxu from the Foreign Ministry repeated that the developed nations have "the historical responsibility on climate change" and should "take the lead in the reduction of emissions" and help developing countries with capital and technology and capacity building. Ma was responding to comments made by United States climate envoy Todd Stern when he appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington DC.

"No country holds the fate of the Earth in its hands more than China," Stern told the committee. Emerging giants like China, India and Brazil should pull their weight, he said. While the new climate regime could include exemptions for developing countries in order to protect economic growth, he said, "what we do not agree with... is that we should commit to implement what we promise to do, while major developing countries make no commitment at all." Stern recognized that developing nations are addressing the climate problem. "Paradoxically, while the negotiations are in a difficult state, it's also true that we are at a moment in history when more countries, including China, Brazil and South Africa, are taking stronger actions or are poised to take stronger actions than ever before to combat climate change."

Peatland loss in Southeast Asia is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report commissioned by Wetlands International. In this region, peat emissions are equivalent to 70 per cent of all fossil fuel emissions. Major sources are deforestation and fire and conversion to palm oil and pulpwood plantations explained study coordinator Hans Joosten of Greifswald University in Germany. Organic carbon built up over thousands of years is exposed to the air, decomposes and turns into carbon dioxide.

These emissions have yet to be addressed effectively in the climate treaty process, according to Susanna Tol of Wetlands International. Reporting is only voluntary at present. "We call for mandatory accounting of emissions from peatlands," she said. Last year, the palm oil boom in Indonesia resulted in emissions from peat rising to one and a half times those from burning fossil fuels. Rosediana Suharto of the Indonesian Palm Oil Commission argues that controls are in place to preserve peatlands with high carbon storage. "We have not been wantonly cutting down forests the way the green groups accuse us of doing." Since 1990, global peatland emissions have risen more than 20 per cent.