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The Copenhagen Climate talks kicked off in Copenhagen on 7 December with a welcoming ceremony addressed by the Prime Minister of Denmark, which was followed by the opening sessions of the 15th Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC and then the 5th meeting of the Parties in the Kyoto Protocol (CMP).
The first day also saw the opening plenary of the 8th session of the Ad-hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA) as well as the opening plenary of the 10th session of the Ad-hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex 1 Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP).
The Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, at the welcoming ceremony, said that the challenge before Parties is to translate political will into a strong common approach to forge an agreement that will provide for effective global solutions. He said that Denmark had been conducting intensive consultations in preparation for this conference and has been engaging with world leaders. There was need to develop an agreement that is both acceptable to all Parties and is at the same time strong and ambitious, just and equitable, effective and operational.
Rasmussen said that 110 heads of states and government will be coming to Copenhagen next week in the concluding days of the Conference. The agreement that world leaders should adopt next Friday (18 December) must be founded on the legal principles of the Climate Change Convention and it must respond to all aspects of the mandates agreed upon in Bali two years ago. It must seek to capture progress achieved within the negotiations, both under the Convention and under the Kyoto Protocol. It must launch immediate action, he added.
Also at the opening ceremony, Dr. Rajeandra Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said that the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report had specified that if temperature increase is to be limited to between 2 to 2.4 degree C, global emissions must peak no later than 2015. Some may even question the goal of 2 degree as a ceiling because this would lead to sea-level rise on account of thermal expansion of 0.4 to 1.4 meters. This increase added to the effect of melting of snow and ice across the globe, and could submerge several small island states and Bangladesh, he added.
Referring to the recent incident of the stealing of the emails of scientists at the University of East Anglia, Pauchauri said that this showed that some would go to the extent of carrying out illegal acts as an attempt to discredit the IPCC. He defended the work of the IPCC, which he said has a record of transparent and objective assessment stretching over 21 years.
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo De Boer, said that the cake that needs to come out of Copenhagen needs to have three layers. The bottom layer consists of an agreement on prompt implementation of action on mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology, reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) and capacity-building. The second layer consists of ambitious emission reduction commitments and actions, commitments on start up finance in the order of $10 billion per year, and long-term finance. The third layer or the icing consists of a shared vision on long-term cooperative action and a long-term global goal.
Following the opening ceremony, the opening plenary of the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15), was held. Connie Hedegaard, the Minister of Climate and Energy of Denmark, who was appointed President of COP15, said Denmark was committed to maximum progress in the two tracks - the Convention track and the Kyoto Protocol -- and to ensure successful and ambitious outcomes. She said that the political will has never been stronger and warned that if Parties missed this chance, it could take years, if ever, for an ambitious outcome.
Ambassador Ibrahim Mirghani Ibrahim of Sudan, Chair of the G77 and China, said we are now being told that we will only get a "politically binding agreement" in Copenhagen but we should use the remaining to fulfill the mandate given in Bali. "We reject attempts of developed countries to shift the responsibility of addressing climate change and its adverse effects on developing countries and their objective of concluding another legally binding instrument that would put together the obligations of developed countries under the Kyoto Protocol and similar actions of developing countries. This would revoke the principle of common but differentiated responsibility under the Convention by imposing these obligations as well on developing countries under the guise of a "shared vision".
The G77 and China said that the existing financial architecture has failed to deliver sufficient resources to address the threat of climate change. "We hope our partners will ensure the operationalisation of an effective financial mechanism under the Convention." Citing recent UNFCCC data on GHG emissions from Annex 1 Parties between 1990 and 2007, the G77 Chair said that GHG emissions of developed countries increased by 11.2% excluding land-use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) and increased by 12.8%, including LULUCF. Many developed countries have yet to peak on their emissions, although having reached industrial development more than half a century ago. "On the contrary, developing countries are now being required to take the leadership in cutting emissions while developed countries are continuously increasing their emissions, and hence, over-occupying the global climate space."
The Group also stressed the need for an inclusive, transparent and open process throughout the Conference that will ensure that no one will be excluded from deliberations. It said that no parallel tracks of negotiations should be created nor should there be any hierarchy of decisions.
Algeria, speaking for the Africa Group expressed serious concern about the lack of progress in this process. It said that Africa will not put aside the historical responsibility of the developed world for climate change and the principle of common but differentiated responsibility which should not be undermined under any guise. Referring to the Kyoto Protocol, Algeria said that the UNFCCC has only one legally binding instrument and it must not be undermined. The Kyoto Protocol must survive and continue to function as the main and most important implementing instrument of the Convention. The Africa Group was firmly opposed to the re-negotiation of the UNFCCC, which could lead to the complete collapse of the fight against climate change. It also requested for a transparent and equitable High Level Segment at COP15 and this process must not be selective in nature.
Lesotho, speaking for the LDCs wanted to see outcomes on the two tracks of the AWG-KP and the AWG-LCA. LDCs want an outcome that is fair, inclusive and equitable and that takes into account the vulnerability of the LDCs. Adaptation is of high priority. It said that all LDCs have done their National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAS). It was discouraged that funds available for NAPAs was only USD200 million and hoped to see renewed pledges for the LDC Fund towards the USD2 billion that must be realized. Massively enhanced and scaled up financing was needed, with equitable arrangements for facilitating access by LDCs. Further, intellectual property rights must not be a barrier to the transfer of climate technologies.
Grenada for AOASIS said that an ambitious outcome must address the threat from climate change which is commensurate with the scale of the problem. It wanted an internationally legally-binding outcome and will not accept a "political agreement". The final agreement must address the emissions by all major emitting countries based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibility. Temperature rise must be limited to being well below 1.5 degree C and GHG concentrations to 350 ppm.
Saudi Arabia also said that it cannot accept the re-negotiation of the Convention or to alter the balance of rights and obligations between Parties. Any agreement must cover all subjects and that it was not possible to resolve some issues and leave others behind. Referring to the East Anglia University "climate-gate", it said that the scandal was going to affect the level of trust and confidence in the IPCC. There was need for an international independent investigation on this matter, on whether the original data was deleted and altered.
Australia, speaking for the Umbrella Group (comprising mainly of developed countries who are not part of the European Union), said that it wants a resounding success at COP 15 with bold action and a strong outcome. There was need for maximizing credibility and trust among Parties. Its vision was to limit temperature rise to 2 degree C and for global emissions to be reduced by 50% by 2050, with the peaking of emissions as soon as possible. The Umbrella Group was willing to be subjected to the measuring, reporting and verification (MRV) that is robust. For a post-2012 agreement, quick and high-impact financing was needed especially for LDCs and SIDs who are vulnerable. This substantial increase in financing must also include the carbon markets. It said that there was an emerging consensus that for a Copenhagen accord, USD10 billion per year was needed by 2012 especially for LDCs and the most vulnerable. Referring to the various developed and developing country announcements on mitigation actions, it said that there was need to "internationalize" them so that Parties will stand behind them. To be environmentally effective, these actions should be subject to transparent reporting and review internationally. There cannot be a "business-as-usual" outcome. It said that there was need for a new legally binding treaty as soon as possible with a decision in the Copenhagen accord.Sweden, speaking for the EU said it wanted a global and ambitious agreement that keeps temperature rise to less than 2 degree C and covers all the elements of the BAP. It must provide a framework for all Parties and environmental integrity was important and it must build on the Kyoto Protocol. Emissions must peak no later than 2020 and developed countries must reduce emissions in the range of 80-95% compared to 1990 levels and developing countries must also contribute. All who have capacity must increase their pledges. It said that the incremental cost for meeting the costs of adaptation and mitigation was USD 100 billion per year.
TWN Update No. 3
Copenhagen News Update
8 December 2009
Published by the Third World Network
www.twnside.org.sg
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