With the Copenhagen conference just over a month away, there have been a number of developments—both positive and negative—towards achieving a legally binding climate treaty that will guide global action on climate change. Particular attention has been given to the issues of targets and financing. At the recent European Union Summit in Brussels, European leaders advanced discussions on how to provide funding for climate action in developing countries. 27 of the world’s richest nations have backed global funding to tackle climate change in developing countries. But the amount of funding deemed adequate has been widely contested. The European Commission has called on the EU to contribute a share of up to €15 billion, but many civil society groups are calling for at least €35 billion in annual public funding from the EU by 2020. While no actual commitments were made, climate funding options are on the table leading up to Copenhagen. Starting tomorrow, negotiators from nearly 180 countries will be working to draft an agreement to replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol at UNFCCC Barcelona Climate Change Talks. While some believe not enough advances have been made to conclude a treaty in Copenhagen, others remain optimistic and highlight these recent developments which will work as a framework for the basis of the next treaty. These developments (and others) are discussed by Janos Pasztor, Director of the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Change Support Team.
Tags: climate change, COP15 Resources, Financing, Preliminary negotiations
