Paris, Le Bourget, 14/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - Global benefits from the success of COP 21 in Paris. At 19.30 on Saturday 12 December, the 196 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change succeeded in concluding a universal, binding, dynamic and differentiated agreement to face the challenge of climate change (see EUROPE 11451).
Six years after the breakdown of Copenhagen (COP 15) and following a two-week marathon of negotiations, this agreement marks a turning point towards a global energy transition and a carbon-free future. It was concluded in triumph and described as historic, even though the text of the agreement includes the concerns of 196 parties that the fact that the national contributions (INDC) on the table would lead to increases in global temperatures of around 3°C by 2100. Given the number of countries and interests at stake, this was undoubtedly the best agreement possible short of responding to the urgent situation facing the small vulnerable island states, which are threatened with being swallowed up by the sea.
The Paris Agreement, which is set to enter into force in 2020, aims to boost the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping the average increase in temperature “well below 2°C” by the end of the century and continuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C. 1.5°C instead of 2°C corresponds to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 70% to 80% by 2050.
It contains a long-term objective for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and an update, every five years, of both the contributions of various countries, on the basis of scientific data, and of the funding. It lays emphasis on adaptation, recognises the need for cooperation on losses and damage and provides for increased and predictable funding to be mobilised to support the attenuation and adaptation efforts of the developing countries.
According to the President of COP 21, the French Minister for Foreign Affairs Laurent Fabius, who received the warm thanks of all ministers and delegates, it is a “differentiated, fair, sustainable, balanced and legally binding agreement which recognises the principles of climate justice and of differentiated responsibilities and capabilities”. The Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon, described it as “an agreement which will put the planet on track towards a future free from greenhouse gas emissions”.
The European Union, which worked tirelessly to increase the level of ambition, expressed its “great satisfaction” with the results obtained, even though this is only the beginning. “This is a historic step forward. It is the first universal and binding agreement on the climate. We also have 186 parties which are already implementing their INDCs”, said the Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Canete. He states that the efforts made by the EU since 2011 (Durban) and at COP 21 have been rewarded by allowing alliances to be forged and consolidated. “This is a success for Europe and it is a major gain for the international community”, he told the press, adding that it is his understanding that the coalition of the most ambitious countries (High Ambition Coalition) may provide a decisive impetus “once the major countries such as the United States, Brazil and Australia have joined us”. He explained that the objectives of the agreement, the INDCs, the financing to support the developing countries, the differentiation based on national circumstances and capability are tools which make the agreement fit for purpose. It now has to be implemented.
“This is a day we can be proud of. This is a roadmap for a better, fairer and more sustainable world. The EU has fought for the most solid agreement possible. But let us not forget that Paris is only the first step on a long journey”, added Carole Dieschbourg, the minister of the environment of Luxembourg, who represented the Presidency of the Council by negotiating alongside the Commissioner on behalf of the EU. “With all players - NGOs, businesses, each and every citizen - our job is now to translate this agreement into action”.
The MEP Giovanni La Via (EPP, Italy), who headed up the delegation of the EP in Paris, welcomed this unprecedented step forward. “The world is on board, and so is the ambition. We now have to deliver on the concrete policies” as a matter of urgency, with the “reform of the ETS post-2020 and the proposals anticipated on effort-sharing, energy efficiency and renewables”, he said.
“A month to the day” after the attacks on Paris, the French President, François Hollande, had called on all parties to adopt the agreement “to make 12 December 2015 not just a historic date, but a great date for humanity, a life message”. His wishes were heard.
The Paris Agreement, a text 12 pages long drafted in general terms, covers action for post-2020. It is annexed to a decision of 19 pages, which details its provisions. The Agreement and the decision are of equal importance, as they each contain binding elements. The INDCs are not binding, to avoid making problems for the United States with Congress. However, the framework of transparency of the commitments and the monitoring, declaration and verification mechanism, to vouchsafe the credibility of the efforts, will be binding, on the other hand. The intensification of efforts up to 2020 is detailed in the decision, a number of provisions of which are binding. This agreement will be open for signature in New York between 22 April 2016 and 21 April 2017. In order to enter into force, it will have to be ratified by 55 parties representing a total of at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Long-term objective. The text is fairly loose, contains no figures and has dropped the reference to 'climate neutrality'. The parties will seek only to “reach a peak of emissions as soon as possible”, with a reduction of emissions to start soon afterwards. This will allow them, by the end of the century, to achieve a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and the absorption of emissions by carbon wells (the ability of forests to absorb CO2).
Post-2020 mechanisms. Every five years, the national contributions will be revised, but never downwards. The decision provides for the US$100 billion a year for the developing countries up to 2020 to be a lower limit and that a new collective amount will be established by 2025 at the latest. The text states that the developed countries should take the leadership for the financing, both for attenuation and adaptation, and that the other countries (such as the emerging countries) will be encouraged to contribute on a voluntary basis. Readers may recall that the EU, the United States and Japan refused to allow the financing of the adaptation measures of developing countries to rest on their shoulders alone. The absence of methodology to account for the financing has been a stumbling block throughout the negotiations. The decision provides that this methodology will be laid down before COP 22 in Marrakesh next year.
Reinforced action pre-2020. 'Facilitating dialogue' on the level of ambition of the INDCs will be launched in 2018 and there will be a first global stock take of actions in 2023. This measure will then be repeated every five years.
Loss and damage. This subject has its own specific article in the agreement and a number of paragraphs in the decision. The Parties agreed to continue the Warsaw mechanism and recognise the need to cooperate and reinforce both the understanding of the problem and the actions of and support to the developing countries. This support will cover such things as early warning systems, preparations for emergency situations, risk assessment and management, risk insurance and non-economic losses.
Transparency. Transparency and the information to be provided in order to guarantee the comparability of the data will concern emissions and INDCs, transfers of technology and financing.
Carbon prices. There is no longer any reference to the relevance of this. The text refers only to international carbon credits. France called for a coalition of countries, on a voluntary basis, to set carbon prices.
NGOs and civil society, which mobilised in favour of the objective of 100% renewable energy sources by 2050 and climate justice, came away disappointed. Insufficient reduction of emissions by the industrialised countries, offers of financing and support for the adaptation measures of the developing countries inadequate, given their historic responsibility, no compensation for the vulnerable countries suffering irreversible losses and damage: these are the great shortcomings of this agreement, says Sarah Sow of Friends of the Earth International, who criticises the rich countries for not taking “their fair share of emissions cuts (…) and seeking to dismantle the UN Climate Convention to suit their own needs”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)