A quick summary of the negotiations:
As of today, according to 350.org, we are facing an agreement that puts the entire globe on track to reach a very terrifying 770 part per million (ppm) of Carbon Dioxide in our atmosphere by century’s end. What the world needs to reach global stability has been researched to be 350 ppm.
On a positive notes; some strategies, more than others, are moving quickly through the negotiations and it is absolutely my hope that they can find a way to start applying those individual strategies upon leaving Copenhagen.
One such strategy is referred to as reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD). Its an agreement to give carbon credits to those countries who sustainably maintain their forest. In this case, the developed nations have the funding and support needed; its just a matter of agreeing on who manages the billions of dollars, who decides how to use the funds and deciding the extent of the market’s role in providing some or all of the funds.
On the other hand; the funds for mitigation and adaptation of climate change to the developing nations is throwing the negotiations totally off course. The slightest progress happened today when Ethiopia’s Prime Minister and African Union climate negotiator Meles Zenawi settled for ”100 billion US dollars annual funds by 2020 from rich countries”. This much less than the Africans asked for and even the EU had estimated (150 billion dollars) according to Reuters. I understand that any financial commitment from anyone to anyone will take time; management agreements, transparency agreements and full understanding and agreement from both sides. At this point in time; it would be ideal to take it one step at a time. First step is to stop emissions and the second is to sustainably develop as a global nation.
Of course the main discussion should be Emission Targets for the developed nations, where most are supporting 40%reduction by 2020 based on 1990 levels. EU is sitting on the fence for 30% compared to Canada Conservatives’ 2007 green plan with a 3% below 1990 levels, meanwhile developed nations of South Africa, South Korea, Costa Rica, Brazil are committing to great targets considering.
Going into Thursday of WEek 2 the thousands and thousands of activist are getting frustrated and desperate. There was a Peoples Assembly called today to hold our own negotiations and come up with the peoples agreement and solutions to climate change. It ended with tear gas.
