This is the third article for LDV by Fiona Hall, Lib Dem leader of the European Liberal Democrats, giving her account of the Copenhagen climate change summit. You can read Part I here, and Part II here.
What a mess.
After yesterday afternoon’s impasse on an international agreement, President Obama took matters into his own hands, struck a deal with China, India, Brazil and South Africa – and promptly left the country. It’s leadership of a sort – but, sadly, in the wrong direction.
The rest of the world has been offered a watered-down Accord which – as it stands – has no chance of meeting its own aspiration of limiting the global temperature rise to 2C. The 2050 emissions targets have been edited out, as has any mention of revising to a 1.5C degree limit if the science requires it. And funding remains uncertain. But the message is clear: take it or leave it.
Perhaps this accord is better than nothing. There is recognition that developing countries need an annual $100 bn in adaptation and mitigation aid by 2020 and there’s a proposed mechanism to verify developed economies’ emissions cuts. This is a base on which to build over the coming months. But it is essential that those countries which recognise the need for a stronger – and truly global – deal regroup and make it happen.
There is a sobering lesson in all of this. The US and China must find a way to work together and with the rest of the world. If they don’t, global progress is impossible.
Now we hear that the plenary session – which is still sitting this morning – has recognised the US-brokered deal. But to become an official UN agreement, all 193 nations must endorse it and it’s not clear that will happen.
One thing I am quite clear about. The fight to get a global deal that really does combat climate change must continue. There is no alternative.
* Fiona Hall MEP is Leader of the Liberal Democrat European Parliamentary Party
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4 Comments
While all these high flown negotiations are or are not going on, 30 LibDem Councils across Britain have signed up to 10:10 – reducing their emissions by 10% next financial year, but of course the international campaign must continue.
In his opening address, Obama said that whether or not Copenhagen reached agreement, the US would follow a policy of reducing its dependence on imported oil. This would include the implementation of new technologies in conservation and renewables (although he did not say too much about coal and nuclear.) The electricity supply system in the US is not a totally free capitalist system and the Government has quite an influence. Add to that Califorina is pretty serious and you have a not inconsequential package.
So, Fiona, let’s do the business in Euope. Make sure that 20:20;2020 is driven through in every country of the Union. I think that once countries get into the mindset of reducing emissions and seeing how straightforward saving that first 20% is, the serious next steps will not look so difficult.
Only the Liberal Democratshave the principles, the policies and the political will to tackle climate change issues. So go for it.
Where is the official Party leadership line on this? I see nothing on the Party website as yet. As fdp100 – and indeed Fiona herself – say, there is no purpose in mere condemnation at the profoundly disappointing result from Copenhagen. We must be the Party offering hope and spelling out the way forward. We out in the sticks need a “line to take” and we need it now. It’s 36 hours now – have I missed something?
When will people see that Obama is not a God but a U.S Gimp. He has done very litle of what he promised and this climate ‘deal’ is a sham.
It has no dates, very little parameters and makes the whole Copenhagen Summit a farce.
The way forward post COP 09 remains to find a global solution to the rising carbon emissions and `global warming’ by securing a legally and verifiable agreement between the US and the China- responsible for 50% global gases- so that a practical plan will cut down their own air pollution, for future generations.
In London, 300 people are killed by carbon deaths from air pollution each year.
The fight to control the increase of flights threatening to rise to exponential levels the human need for a reduction in air pollution before it is too late to reverse the `greenhouse effect’ is the paramount concern.
We must go far beyond the 10/10 commitment by the L/D driven Councils that have signed up to a local practical response to climate change next year.
But the real climate change agenda may not be driven again until the next summit in Mexico.
This COP 09 cost over £25 M to take delegates to Denmark by carbon raking air flights and ended in failure to provide adequate global assurances via a binding agreement with world powers, that there is gravitas to take the required action to combat climate change, in the time frame available ahead.
The task to save future generations from increasing average temperatures and rising seas that will sink many remote islands and cause havoc to coastlines and condemn poorer families to starvation in water rationed countries is the main question to solve for the populations in Indian and Pacific oceans.
Without adequate sea defences including southern England is also at risk from sea invasion,and threatens as a daunting prospect and the main global issue of our age for the Towns along these coast lands.