COP17 has ended and the actual results from two weeks of negotiations have led to various reactions. Sweden’s minister for the Environment, Lena Ek, is happy about what has been decided and she hopes for a binding agreement by 2015. At the same time, she realises that there is a lot of work ahead. Some business organisations and representatives from civil society were however more critical and described COP17 as a proof of politicians’ inability to come to grips with the challenge of climate change.
Sida had several representatives present in Durban that took part in the negotiations, especially regarding capacity building and the Monitoring, Review and Verification of climate change support. According to Sida’s advisor on climate change, Elisabeth Folkunger, the meeting’s decision on stricter reporting requirements on climate change support to developing countries, will have an impact on Sida’s work:
– A more detailed reporting in the so called ‘biennial reports’ will result in additional work to track all elements of capacity building and technology transfer in relation to climate change, as well as reporting on what is new and additional to developing countries.
Tove Goldmann at Sida’s Department for Policy Support adds that one of Sida’s top-10 priorities for 2012 is a continued focus on adaptation to climate change, given the slow progress on mitigation:
– Adaptation is needed to reduce risks and prevent catastrophes in developing countries. But we also need to work long-term and find more synergies between the agendas of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
What were the main results from the climate change conference?
The so called “Durban Package” that was presented after the meeting contains key elements, such as a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, a pathway towards a legally-binding instrument for all countries, a work programme for long-term finance and a framework for the new Green Climate Fund.
The Kyoto Protocol
The countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol agreed on a second commitment period covering 2012-2017. Canada, Japan and Russia had however already announced that they would not sign up for an extension. Since other major countries like the US have previousy refused to join, this implies that the members of the extended Kyoto Protocoll only represent approximately 13 per cent of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
Roadmap towards a legally-binding instrument
The parties also agreed to establish the so called Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, to develop a road map towards a legally-binding instrument that will cover all the parties under the Climate Change Convention. This also includes the US and developing country parties that do not currently have emission reduction commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. The working group shall complete its work with the protocoll by 2015.
Long-Term Finance
During COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009, the parties agreed on a goal of jointly mobilizing USD 100 billion per year by 2020 to address the climate change needs of developing countries. In Durban it was decided to, in 2012, undertake a work programme to progress on long-term finance and especially the sources of long-term finance.
A framework for the Green Climate Fund
The decision to operationalize the Green Climate Fund (GCF) means that a board can be appointed. The GCF will support projects, programmes, policies and other activities in developing country, both on mitigation and adaptation. Sweden and other EU countries will contribute to the start-up costs of the Fund.
Read more about the Climate Change Conference COP17 on UNFCCC’s official website
