Paris-Le Bourget, 08/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - On the second day of ministerial climate negotiations at COP 21, everyone is agreed that progress was made and the “excellent work” of the French presidency acknowledged by all.
Nonetheless, the work that remains to be done is still great if North-South differences are to be overcome, particularly with regard to climate financing to 2020 and beyond and the concept of differentiation in all the provisions of the global agreement to be concluded on Friday 11 December, according to the stated desire of French Foreign Minister and COP 21 chairman Laurent Fabius (see EUROPE 11447). To the four working groups on cross-cutting issues (differentiation, ambition, pre-2020 action, support and means of implementation) have been added five others on: - adaptation and loss and damage; - the preambles of the forthcoming agreement; - forests; - cooperation mechanisms; - short-term measures and responses. Proposals for compromise formulae on parts of the text were expected on Tuesday evening.
“Lots of countries, including Venezuela, want a text. The aim is still to finish on Friday evening”, said Nicolas Hulot, special adviser to French President François Hollande on climate issues, on Tuesday morning.
Trust building. “An agreement is achievable on Thursday, and we hope to have a new text tomorrow. But the most difficult issues, this Tuesday, remain unresolved. This is a trust-building exercise: developing countries want to be certain that the finance promised in Copenhagen (in 2009) will be delivered, while developed countries want to be reassured that this effort will not rest only on their shoulders after 2020”, said Giovanni La Via (EPP, Italy), the leader of a 15-strong European Parliament delegation. “The key, in this final stretch of talks, is for all parties to leave the comfort zone of usual 'realpolitik' bargaining and overcome divisions inherited form the past.” MEPs also want the revenue from carbon markets to be pooled to serve as a source of financing for climate action. “Our experience with the EU carbon market is already being transposed to other regions and could, if implemented globally, help us raise more money for climate adaptation”, stated Gilles Pargneaux (S&D, France), Parliament rapporteur on COP 21.
“I believe we can come to an ambitious, binding agreement with nobody left behind”, affirmed Brazilian Minister Izabella Teixeira.
Progress was made on the five-yearly review clause but it still has to be agreed when the first of these reviews is to take place. The EU, supported by the small island states, wants stock to be taken in 2019 allowing review of the agreement in 2020 so that national contributions (INDCs) can be adapted. The United States wants 2020 or 2021. The text provides for review in 2024 but most countries are looking to bring that date forward.
Progress made on differentiation but it remains problematic. Everyone wants national contributions to be revised. The key issue to be resolved is who should do what and when. It is clear that more must be asked of Australia, which pumped out emissions of 20 tonnes of CO2 per capita in 2012 and will produce 16 tonnes of CO2 emissions per capita by 2030, than of Morocco, which emitted 2 tonnes per capita in 2012 and will produce 4 tonnes per capita by 2030. But the developing and emerging countries have been left disappointed by the lack of ambition shown by the developed countries and believe that it is the developed world that should take the lead on both emissions reduction and support for developing nations.
However, differences remain: the countries of the Umbrella group (including the EU, the United States, Canada and Australia) argue that the world has changed and that emerging countries are now able to do more, both in terms of reducing their emissions (INDCs) and on financing. The emerging countries want the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be observed.
In terms of transparency, the EU could show flexibility on national contribution figures but it wants more detailed rules in the agreement - and so does the United States, negotiator Tod Stern made clear.
Bone of contention on financing: according to the figures compiled by the Fondation Nicolas Hulot, which added the new contributions announced at the COP21 to the 2014 financing, US $85 billion would be provided by the latter every year by 2020. There would therefore be a shortcoming of $15 billion out of the $100 billion promised by 2020 to support adaptation and mitigation efforts by developing countries. Developing and emerging countries, however, have doubts about how genuine the figures put forward by the OECD are, which has put the figure at $62 billion for contributions in 2014.
The Indian minister of the environment, Prakash Javadekar, said that “this does not reflect the real numbers”. He added that “the $100 billion by 2020 is not there but China and India are helping the least advanced and most vulnerable countries on a voluntary basis”. Xie Zhenhua, the Chinese special representative, explained “we hope that developing countries will increase their funding after 2020. Developing countries can contribute to South/South development on a voluntary basis. We want a differentiation on this question as well”. The South African Minister highlighted the need to guarantee, as part of the Paris agreement, “the principles from the UN Framework Convention” on common but differentiated responsibilities. She added that “we are not there to rewrite them”.
Calling on the different parties to overcome the division between developed and developing countries, the European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Canete, stated: “These negotiations are not about “them” and “us”. These negotiations are about all of us, both developed and developing countries, finding common ground and solutions together. This is why the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries have agreed to join forces for an ambitious outcome here in Paris”.
EU/ACP alliance bringing hope? One sign that an agreement is possible between rich and developing countries is the fact that the EU and 79 ACP countries (Africa/Caribbean/Pacific), the EU's partners, stressed their shared commitment for a “legally binding, inclusive, fair, ambitious, durable and dynamic” agreement. The two parties believe that this agreement: “Must set out a clear and operational long-term goal which is in line with science - it must establish a review mechanism for countries to come together every five years to consider progress made and to enhance collective and individual efforts as appropriate - it must include a transparency and accountability system to track progress on the delivery of national commitments and the sharing of best practice”. Patrick Gomes, ACP secretary general, stressed the importance of supporting ACP Countries to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, stating: “The EU and the ACP Group represent a great majority of countries in the world and we want an ambitious Paris Agreement to accelerate the global transition that we urgently need”.
The BRICS group of countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), which is chaired by the latter, made a joint declaration stating its commitment to reach a “global, balanced, ambitious and legally binding agreement” and its solid cooperation with the G-77 group, in addition to China. The BRICS support the 1.5°C objective for average global warming. They underlined the need for making differentiation operational between developed and developing countries in each element of the agreement and are urging developed countries to ensure leadership for reducing emissions, as well as financing, technology transfer and support for developing countries' capacity. They also appealed for the future agreement to include stronger adaptation provisions, balanced mitigation treatment and recognition that adaptation is “a collective responsibility requiring a global response”. Their joint press release urges the developing countries to increase their financial assistance in order to reach the $100 billion promised for 2020, as a starting point, “in order to meet their obligations”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)