Above, you have to cycle for your Christmas tree lights in Copenhagen….
The leaders of the world’s nations are now out in force at the COP-15 talks. They have arrived after a process lasting nearly two years from the development of the so called Bali Roadmap, and after nearly 2 weeks of increasingly frenzied talks between negotiators and Ministers representing the nations of the world.
There are few issues which would draw together such a global gathering, but it is a sign of the general acceptance that something must be done – as ever the question is what that should be. This week I haven’t spoken to anyone who has voiced the belief that the issue is not important, but today claims have been made, reported on the Cop-15 website, that leaders and nations who claim to be guided by the science, but espouse weak and scientifically unsupportable targets could be more dangerous than those who are sceptics about climate change.
The other thing that has been prevalent this week is the belief that it is within the wit of man to devise the means to address the issue, whether that be through technological or behavioural means – what is required is political will over the next two days to move these issues on in an equitable fashion.
Late last night the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the US would join others in raising $100 billion dollars to combat climate change, but that this would only be forthcoming if developing nations are transparent about their emissions. Friends of the Earth responded to this announcement warning that the amount on the table is short of UN estimates of the money required, and that too much of it comes from repackaged aid money and an expansion of carbon markets. Friends of the Earth are calling for the USA to agree to higher cuts in emissions, and for funding to tackle climate change to come from new sources.
Today, many observer organisations have been barred from the talks, but it seems that things are progressing as follows:
- The talks have been brought back on track, to a degree, by the Danish Presidency.
- However it is reported that the emissions cuts on the table would lead to temperature rises of 3 degrees Celsius, well above the 1.5 or 2 degrees most people have talked about in Copenhagen.
- China has indicated it is willing to provide details about its actions on greenhouse gas emissions, which would help meet a key demand of the USA – this has been an issue in the way of any agreement at Copenhagen and is despite reports earlier in the day that China may be feeling that only a short political statement would come out of the talks rather than a detailed accord.
- The delegation from the European Parliament has said that the EU must remain firm in its resolve to keep targets of 30% emissions reductions by 2020.
- World leaders such as France’s President Sarkozy, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations are saying that failure at Copenhagen would be catastrophic.
By the end of tomorrow we’ll see how the talks end.
Today’s interesting link is the African Union, which is focusing on climate change and COP-15.
By the way, if anyone is actually reading this blog, it would be useful to get some feedback, good or bad, so the Parliament can evaluate it, and decide whether to do this type of thing in the future. Please email graeme.cook@scottish.parliament.uk with any comments.
