Durban climate change conference

There are already skeptics over the fate of COP 17, and discussion centered on the future of Kyoto Protocol. The least developed countries and countries that are vulnerable to climate change are strongly urging for strong action to curb emissions and bring an end to the negotiation deadlock around the extension of Kyoto and emissions reduction targets. Large sections of the civil society organisation are pressuring developed and industrialized nations to forge early consensus and commitment for deal on emission reduction targets. Recently, some of the world’s largest corporations, over 200 companies from the energy, finance, retail, and manufacturing sectors, issued an “urgent call to action” to governments to approve a “robust, equitable and effective agreement” on climate change at the annual UN climate summit.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat and organisers are hopeful of some kind of miracle to happen to forge consensus among the parties. The UN climate negotiations in South Africa will be “tough”, with the big question focusing on the future of the Kyoto Protocol, the foreign minister of South Africa said recently after the preparatory talks. A legally-binding post-2012 climate agreement is achievable but not this year, said the UNFCCC executive secretary Christiana.

There are disturbing signs and voices being heard this year about the fate of Kyoto. News was spreading around ‘EU setting conditions for signing up to Kyoto II’ and suggestion that Canada should walk away in 2012 from global warming treaty. Similarly, a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol when it expires in 2012 and are instead calling for a new international treaty to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

There are also worrying news on financial commitment. Plans to establish the US$100 billion Green Climate Fund to help developing countries deal with climate change has hit a big barrier this month following the failure of the US and Saudi Arabia to support it.

There might be the regular agenda to follow LDC, G77 and China position on climate negotiation text. Besides, it will be interesting to see how Nepalese delegation will further push the agenda of Mountain Alliance Initiative on Climate Change and other specific agenda based on our national interest. Till today, there has not been any meeting or workshop organised/announced by the government and civil society to discuss the negotiation agenda and the role of the Nepalese delegation.

The government and civil society need to work together to form a task force which can have deeper understanding of the agenda items, outline Nepal’s position and identify areas where we should lobby or put forward our issues to best represent our interest. Besides supporting common interest agenda, Nepal should also have its specific agenda in the interest of the country, and vulnerable population.

The meeting in Durban may not produce concrete outcomes, but it will be an opportunity to narrow the gaps between developed and developing nations on issues around the future of Kyoto protocol and streamlining climate funds. Nepal can play an active role in bringing the negotiation deadlock to an end by closely working with the interest groups like LDCs.

If Nepal can at least be vocal in the sessions, based on its strategic country interest, it will be more than enough. There are also good opportunities that Nepal can showcase and capitalise through informal meetings and bilateral discussions with countries and development agencies. All of this requires early preparation and collaboration among government and other interest groups.

Sources: The Himalayan Times