The 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP15 to the UNFCCC) began in Copenhagen yesterday. Starting positions for countries and negotiating blocks were laid on the table and their differences were cushioned by prosthelytizing about the importance of reaching a fair and binding agreement as soon as possible.
The positions are not unexpected.
Countries who will lose the most the soonest, like the Alliance for Small Island States, had the most ambitious position, at limiting temperature increase to below 1.5°C and atmospheric CO2 to 350 ppm (the world currently stands at about 390 ppm).
Countries without existential problems but serious climate change impacts, like the Least Developed Countries and the African Group, focused on adaptation funding.
Countries with the most to do, like those in the Umbrella Group, an informal coalition of non-EU developed countries including Canada, called for a temperature increase limit of 2°C and a 50% reduction of global emissions by 2050. They anteed in low for adaptation funding, at $10-billion annually by 2012.
The European Union called on developed countries to reduce emissions by 30% below 1990 levels by 2020 (Canada’s current “aspirational” target is about 3% below 1990 by 2020) and for adaptation funding of $100-billion annually by 2020. They also called on developing countries that are economically able to take appropriate mitigation actions.
So the scene is set, and more substantial negotiations begin today. Over 110 world leaders are scheduled to attend throughout the conference, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper. It is hoped that their presence, coupled with tens of thousands of demonstrators, pressure groups, and concerned citizens, will enable a strong and binding agreement to be signed following the 11 day climate blitz. The conference is scheduled to end on December 18th.
By Jeff Beyer, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
