Reports, Friday, said a new shorter draft finally incorporates several key issues raised by India like “sustainable lifestyle” as the crucial climate change conference entered into the final stretch of talks yesterday.
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“I think there is a strategy to oblige States to finally expose themselves”, said Alix Mazounie, from RAC France, which represents climate action organisations.
“Things are going in the right direction”, said Fabius.
Debate centres on the issue of compromise and differentiation between developed and developing countries, financial issues and the range of the ambitious target to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama spoke by telephone late on December 10 and pledged to continue cooperation on climate change, Chinese TV reported. “For most vulnerable countries it’s important how much of the funds actually go to adaptation”.
He put the change down to the fact that countries were now “seeing a way forward” that could tackle climate change and help address other issues such as giving people access to electricity and boosting economic growth.
It is the first time all countries are expected to be involved – the previous emissions treaty only included rich countries.
India also termed as “disappointing” the issue of finance, saying while developed countries failed to fulfil their obligations, they are also trying to “shift” their responsibility to developing nations.
Low-lying island nations and poor countries most at risk from climate change-induced sea level rise and other impacts, have won recognition in the draft of the need for help in dealing with losses suffered. We are more victims… than culprits in that, ” said Jose Ramos-Horta, former president of Timor-Leste and in Paris negotiating with the least-developed countries bloc.
The provision in the text requiring countries to review their domestic climate plans every five years is also giving some big developing nations pause.
It said governments would aim to cap the emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases “as soon as possible” and try to reach “emissions neutrality” by the second half of the century – a weaker resolution than in previous drafts.
It says that temperature rises must be kept “well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5C”.
Sam Barratt of advocacy group Avaaz said, “We would rather they take their time and were patient with the right deal than rush it and get a breakdown…”
“Of course, differences remain, but it’s clear that the countries here are very, very serious about the challenge before them”, said Nat Keohane of the nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund. “There is strong momentum as we head to the finish line”.
If the precise mechanisms for curtailing carbon emissions-and holding countries accountable-aren’t hashed out in the conference’s final hours, the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 or even 2 degrees is worthless. But many disagree over when and how they should be reviewed and updated.
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An announcement by Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday that the US will commit more than $800 million a year to financing climate adaptation in developing countries was a “very positive sign”, Cleetus said.
