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A more ambitious and urgent effort is needed to remedy Copenhagen’s compromised outcome.
After two years of deliberations and two weeks of tough technical negotiations, the leaders from 193 nations gathered in Copenhagen failed to produce a legally binding deal on climate change. The “Copenhagen Accord” itself was merely ‘noted’ by the conference, and not formally adopted.
“For vulnerable countries this is an outcome – after a two-year process – that is neither fair, ambitious, or legally binding,” said Kate Laburn-Peart, World Vision UK’s Head of Policy and Research, who recently returned from the summit and wrote a regular blog whilst there.
“Pledges by major emitting countries so far add up to a world which will heat up by more than 3 degrees,” she explained.
The Accord talks of limiting rises to 2 degrees, but for the most vulnerable nations to survive, the science says warming must be limited to a maximum of 1.5 degrees.
The commitments to funding for developing countries of $US10 billion a year for three years to 2012, and $US100 billion a year by 2020 to help them adapt to an already changing climate and limit the growth of their own emissions are a welcome start. But the commitments are vague, giving no clear indication of how the funds will be raised, how much needs to come from public versus private sources, and when, and how, it will be delivered.
“There is no set path for how the gap in targets, funding and binding commitments will be secured. This was an historic opportunity to resolve these issues, with 193 countries in attendance. There remains a long and urgent ‘to do’ list,” explains Laburn-Peart.
“For small island states and least developed nations, the Accord is not strong enough to prevent widespread devastating impacts on millions of communities. Many families in vulnerable locations are already facing serious consequences, witnessed by the testimonies of people from affected regions where World Vision works,” she continues
World Vision stresses that all countries must maintain urgency and work on more ambitious targets and commitments. Laburn-Peart concludes, ‘The cost to the poor – in lives and livelihoods – is too high to let the hopes of tackling climate change die in Copenhagen. Every month of delay will lead to further consequences for children, the vulnerable, and the unborn.”
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