The countries were given a few hours to study the draft text, after which the negotiations began late in the evening again. One of the major questions for all stakeholders will be climate finance.
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India’s environment minister is urging industrialized nations to take strong action and make sacrifices to fight climate change, as Paris climate talks enter a second, crucial week. There are just two days to reach a deal that is fair and just for the world’s poorest.
Developing countries have many ways to start acting now, instead of postponing their responsibilities. “We’re seeing momentum for an agreement that has never before existed”. This is anathema to oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia and to others such as Australia with large reserves of coal; they would be the last to accept that such fossil fuel resources should be “left in the ground”.
One of the remaining battle fronts in Paris is a debate over when and how often to review those national plans, so that they could be “scaled up” with pledges for deeper emissions cuts. Given that we need additional emissions reductions well before 2030 it is essential that we mobilize finance to “unlock” these extra emissions reductions. It is much cleaner and presents clear options to help ministers get tougher and resolve the sticky issues.
“We didn’t come to Paris to build a ceiling that contains all that we ever hope to do”.
‘Our negotiators are working through the night’.
Kerry said the time to act on climate change is now, citing record-breaking and extreme weather that is “becoming normal”, such as higher average temperatures and flooding. Notably absent from the group are India and China, who fear that an overly ambitious deal might stymie their economic growth. But is critical that countries detail their updated financial support on a regular basis.
“I’m encouraged”, said Nathaniel Keohane, vice president for global climate at the Environmental Defense Fund. “The negotiators have made progress in slimming down the text, taking away extraneous material and strengthening some areas …while others still need to be resolved”.
As President Barack Obama worked the phones from Washington, calling the leaders of India and Brazil, Kerry praised countries moving towards renewable energy and proffered more aid to countries already living with the impacts of climate change on the ground.
African campaigners are demanding compensation for the huge damage being inflicted on the continent by global warming – a problem that has been caused by the rich countries but will hit poor nations the hardest. Getting enough money on the table is only part of the solution. “We need to get the job done, ” Kerry said in a hard-hitting speech to the Paris meeting, “This moment demands we do not leave Paris without a durable ambitious climate agreement”.
Earlier, Kerry announced that the USA will double its contribution to helping vulnerable nations adapt to the effects of climate change, increasing grant money to $860 million from $430 million by 2020. That is why some countries are pushing for greater funding for adaptation over time as the majority of funding has been mobilized towards efforts to reduce emissions. The U.S. move was meant to provide some assurance for developing countries that such a figure would be reached.
Negotiators from 195 countries have gathered on the outskirts of Paris seeking common ground for controlling greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the planet and disrupting theclimate.
Differences also remain over what is known as the “ambition” of the agreement.
The draft text includes language on reducing “maladaptive” and “high emissions” investments. “Both are equally important”. Obviously this text is not supported by all parties.
“We are determined, to succeed here in Paris”, said Kerry.
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“We have now a document which shows some significant progress in terms of finding agreement on some significant issues, but there are many big issues open and we will have to see how this plays out”, Sven Harmeling, Climate Change Advocacy Coordinator, with CARE International said at the Paris conference.
