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Bali climate talks: Global deal by 2009 still possible |
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UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged world leaders to adopt a new climate change deal by 2009 to follow the Kyoto Protocol, with a key role played by business. After the first week of the UN Bali conference, results still look promising.
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2007-12-07
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"We want to unleash the power of markets, capital, innovation and entrepreneurship in our fight against global warming," Ban said on Thursday before joining the climate change talks in Bali. He urged political leaders to agree on a post-Kyoto deal embraced by all nations by 2009 to seize the opportunity to jump-start growth and development, not hinder it. A recent report by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) had stated that curbing serious global warming would cost as little as 0.1% of GDP over the next 30 years, with already existing technologies having at least a 10% rate of return on investment.
Meeting on the Indonesian island of Bali from 4-14 December, more than 10,000 policymakers, scientists and environmental groups are currently discussing a predecessor to the Kyoto Protocol expiring in 2012. The first week revealed new climate plans and large disaccords among political leaders.
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POSITIONS: Policy
Australia: The Bali conference started with Australia's new government ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. Moreover, the Australian delegation expressed its support of a UN document targeting a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions cut of 25-40% below 1990 levels by 2020, noting that the government has already proposed a 60% cut by 2050.
USA: After Australia signing the Kyoto Protocol, the U.S. remains the only developed nation still rejecting mandatory caps in favour of voluntary limits. Meanwhile, several U.S. Congress members have sent a letter to top UN officials to point out that "President Bush's avoidance of action is not the status quo here in America" and express their support for a global deal that would also involve the US, China, and India.
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China & India: While the pressure on emerging economies is rising, China and India have rejected the idea of mandatory emission cuts. On the contrary, China, currently the planet's biggest emitter of GHG, asks industrialized nations to back an international fund to spread GHG-cutting technology and knowledge transfer in poor countries.
Japan has taken the role of a negotiator as it tries to move the U.S., Europe and developing economies closer to a global agreement. The Asian country is among the worst performers of the 36 countries that agreed to reduce emissions under the 1997 Kyoto treaty. As host of the G8 Meeting next year, Japan will make climate change a top priority.
The EU has reiterated its intention to cut emissions by 30% from 1990 levels by 2020. If other industrialized nations, including the U.S., do not agree to also curb GHG, it will, however, only aim for a 20% reduction.
Germany: On time for the Bali talks, the German government has launched a new legislative package to cut CO2 emissions by 40% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. The country hopes to take the environmental leadership with the most ambitious and concrete bundle of measures of all participating countries.
POSITIONS: Science & Business
Climate scientists: In a joint declaration, more than 200 scientists have urged Bali delegates to target a 50% reduction of GHG emissions by 2050. The window of opportunity for global emissions to peak and decline would close in 10-15 years.
Business leaders: In an unprecedented coming together, 150 of the world's biggest companies have called for a "comprehensive, legally binding" UN framework to tackle climate change. In the so-called "Bali Communiqué", they demand greater efforts on the parts of the most industrialized countries.
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More information:
› UNFCCC website: Bali Conference, Kyoto Protocol
› German Environment Ministry: Energy- and Climate Programme (GERMAN)
› Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change: Bali Communiqué
› 2007 Bali Climate Declaration by Scientists
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