Bangkok: disappointment and frustration
No comments
In Bangkok, Thailand, where negotiations take place among member countries of the Organization of United Nations about climate change, with a view to the Summit Conference to be held in Copenhagen next December, the expectations are many, but unfortunately, few believe that at the 15th Conference of the Parties in Copenhagen can be reached an agreement to find a way to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.
During a press conference, the executive secretary of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, Yvo de Boer spoke of encouraging signs however that the talks could provide the essential tools and standards to successfully face the challenge of climate change . He said that solid progress has been made in some key areas to achieving a comprehensive agreement, including adaptation, technology and capacity building in developing countries, but there is no clarity on two issues important to the success of Copenhagen: the objectives in reducing emissions and financial support to developing countries.
De Boer stressed the importance of generating financial resources, so the world can act quickly enough to avoid becoming further the danger of climate change for humanity. The negotiators have begun to draft texts of agreements possible and try to identify options. This week should focus more on what should be an agreement in Copenhagen. Moreover, in the balance of the plenary session on the Kyoto Protocol, developing countries criticized the countries that evade its commitments to mitigate or reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, which undermines the process and could even end the Kyoto Protocol itself. Developing countries accused the industrialized countries not to participate seriously in negotiations to make promises national emissions reduction requirements are not met scientists to save the world from the catastrophic levels of climate change.
The IPCC has estimated that developed countries must reduce their emissions by between 25 and 40 percent by 2020 compared with 1990 levels. Developing countries are calling for an overall reduction of at least 40 percent. Industrialized countries together only offer reduced between 16 and 23 percent, excluding the United States, or between 11 and 18 percent, including the United States.
Regretted that almost no action be taken. “Without political will, any negotiations will go forward.” He accused some countries to participate in a concerted effort to “undermine the challenge and destroy the principle of common but differentiated basis for international cooperation on climate change.”
Micronesia mentioned that the reduction of between 11 and 18 percent of emissions is consistent with a 3 degree increase in temperature, which would have disastrous consequences. Tuvalu wondered then why we are writing an obituary for the Kyoto Protocol or to its revival? ” Most developing countries urged developed countries to demonstrate leadership and close the gap between the promise of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and what the science world and demand to combat climate change.
Many countries expressed their disappointment and frustration about the low levels of emission reductions in industrialized countries, which have been laid on the table with great conditioning. The science indicates that emissions of greenhouse gases must be below 350 parts per million for the temperature increase is limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as soon as possible. To achieve this it is necessary to reduce emissions by more than 45 percent from 1990 to 2020, and over 95 percent by 2050.
However, some countries still say the aim is to limit temperature increase to 2 degrees Celsius, with the situation said that science could sink the Caribbean islands and the South Pacific. Pakistan said that “it is as if we were sitting in a car and the driver was constantly putting holes in a tire to flatten it and ask passengers to help plug the gaps.” This is not the way forward. We can fix it, but need political will. Bolivia said that his delegation had received a mandate from its indigenous peoples to defend Mother Earth. However, it is disappointed by the lack of seriousness and leadership from developed countries. Bolivia, speaking also on El Salvador, Paraguay and Venezuela criticized the unwillingness of industrialized countries.
Climate change is not a cause but an effect of a development model that is linked to excessive accumulation of wealth and capital, leading to imbalance and inequality, reducing atmospheric space that developing countries need. Developed countries should use the talks in Bangkok to show leadership in reducing emissions, rather than pressuring developing countries to assume more obligations. Developed countries must reduce consumption and to address the sources that lead to climate change. The representative of Switzerland said that his country had decided to reduce emissions by at least 20% below the 1990 level, and depending on the results of COP15 (Copenhagen), is prepared to increase this percentage to 30% “only if all major emitting countries, ie all the major industrialized countries and emerging developing, working together.”
Japan said that with two months away from Copenhagen and only 11 days of formal negotiations, all we have to move boldly. Japan hopes to make a contribution to progress through new funding commitments for mitigation and financial contribution to developing countries. Japan wants countries to move towards a just and effective international framework involving all major emitters. In his speech, President John Ashe of Antigua and Barbuda, asked to reflect on the gap between the promises of the developed and the needs of science, because unless we close “we will become the laughingstock of the world on 18 December (last day of the COP 15). We will see in the next few days where the talks are moving and how far developed countries are willing to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases, thinking about the good of humanity.
