The goal of the talks is to reach agreement on reducing emissions of the greenhouse gases blamed for climate change, in an attempt to keeping average temperatures from rising more than two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
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“Simply paying lip service to the plight of our Pacific neighbours is not enough”.
“He’s following this quite closely, he’s getting regular updates from his team in Paris about the status of the negotiations”, Earnest said Tuesday.
The rift between rich and poor countries remains in Paris, with the delivery of climate finance for developing countries still being one of the thorniest issues on the negotiating table.
Outside some of the poshest hotels in Paris, environmental activists displayed more than 1,000 posters showing the faces of 7 people who are climate-change sceptics or have ties to the fossil-fuel industry, labelling them “criminals”.
The UK and EU’s top priority is understood to be for the deal to include a five-year review of all countries’ pledges to check they are delivering on their promises and encourage them to pledge deeper emission cuts.
Talks on a universal climate pact shifted to a higher gear with United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon urging governments to set off an “energy revolution” to rein in heat-trapping carbon emissions and avert disastrous global warming. Developed countries have been arguing that the need for climate finance was well beyond $ 100 billion and it would be good if developing countries also contribute.
The event and their trip is sponsored by Guardians of the Aquifer, Nebraska Wildlife Association, Nebraska Chapter of the United Nations Association, Nebraskans for Peace, Bold Nebraska, Energy Linc, Interfaith Power and Light, Nebraska Farmers Union and Citizens Climate Lobby. The sensitivity of this pledge was underlined in the BASIC briefing where all countries rejected an OECD report that calculated wealthy countries had already made “significant progress” toward meeting the $100 billion goal, saying that the actual contribution had been “only a fraction of what they claim”.
In a statement at Cop21 in Paris on Tuesday Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, stressed the need for a strong legally binding agreement on climate change.
A key part of the working document is additional financing from developed countries for new technology and assistance for developing nations. “These negotiations are about all of us, both developed and developing countries, finding common ground and solutions together”. “This is fundamental”, said Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar. This world is one where we also marshall resources to build our resilience to the shocks of climate change, especially that of the poorest and the marginalized – the most vulnerable.
Analysis of climate action plans of 185 countries for emissions reductions and other strategies up to 2030, covering more than 90% of the world’s emissions, suggests that even if they are all put into place, temperatures are likely to rise by about 2.7C by 2100.
“Developed countries must agree to lead, and developing countries need to assume increasing responsibility in line with their capabilities”, Ban told the worldwide leaders. PM Modi has said climate change is a global problem that has not been caused by India.
Offering a gloomy but timely reminder of a future in which emissions go unchecked, a “red alert” for air pollution was issued in China’s capital, Beijing, on Monday.
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“I think the stage is set, I think the attitude is now there”, said Kerry.
