The LPAA – a joint undertaking of the Peruvian and French climate conference presidencies, the Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the United Framework Convention for Climate Change Secretariat – has been holding a series of events and announcements to generate momentum for climate actions this year, including yesterday’s event showcasing the efforts of cities and regions. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) convened a hearing in Washington to question the scientific consensus that human activity is responsible for climate change.
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Seven of the 10 richest countries measured in GDP per capita identified by the World Bank are considered developing countries in the United Nations climate negotiations and would not have an obligation to provide climate aid to poorer countries.
“Both leaders emphasised their personal commitment to secure a strong climate change agreement this week and their interest in our countries’ working together to achieve a successful outcome”, the White House said in a readout of the phone call yesterday.
“While some countries, such as Canada, are showing real leadership calling for a 1.5 degree limit on temperature increase, New Zealand seems content to sit on the fence waiting to see which way the wind blows”.
He noted that the current draft agreement has no reference to how much finance is needed for adaptation.
Paris, Dec. 8: India and other emerging economies have indicated that they are ready to sing in favour of a Paris accord on climate change, provided the developed countries set up a backdrop with the music of money.
The Manila-Paris Declaration officially launched by President Benigno Aquino III last week has drawn support from more than 100 countries.
The developed countries group OECD had determined that about $62 billion had been accounted for so far, but Javadekar said this was not so. These words reflect developing countries’ wish of not being put on the spot.
In September a year ago, DiCaprio announced himself as one of the world’s highest profile environmental activists with a powerful speech on climate change.
Another important issue for the Philippines is the inclusion of the concept on human rights in the preamble.
“I believe we can find a comprehensive, ambitious, legally binding agreement with no person left behind”.
India’s environment minister, Prakash Javadekar, said he was disappointed by a “low level of ambition” among rich nations, but predicted the world was “roughly 80 hours away” from a deal.
“We are the face of vulnerability”. “We all know the vulnerable countries suffer the life-claiming brunt of climate disasters already today”.
“Those of us who have been watching these for a long time think there has been a spirit of cooperation”, Greenpeace political advisor Ruth Davis told journalists. “The entire agreement is based on differentiation”, he said.
It urged that every step of the negotiations be shared with the civil society and the public.
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The bone of contention may have been underlined by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who told the media that developing countries must also make adequate contribution to reduce emissions, and that they could not take a position that only the developed countries should do it. He said the Kyoto Protocol, which called upon the developed nations to cut emissions, had failed precisely because of this.
