New deal must not attempt to rewrite or reinterpret the Convention, say developing countries By: Indrajit Bose, Bonn The second session of the ADP, acronym for Ad hoc Working Group on Durban Platform, began in Bonn on April 29, 2013. At the opening session, countries outlined their positions on what they expect of the global deal on climate change, to be decided in 2015 and which will be implemented from 2020 (see box: Country positions).
CSE's experience-sharing workshop on climate change, brought together about 20 ngo's, practitioners and implementers from across India and other South Asian countries who work at the ground level with communities directly impacted by the effects of climate change.
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore November 3-4, 2012
Sunita Narain on the Doha outcome It was a nail-biting end that came in a no-ball game. For the past 20 years, the world has been haggling about who will cut greenhouse gas emissions and how much. In the same 20 years, the science of climate change has become more certain. The world is beginning to witness what the future will look like – more extreme events like the typhoon Bopha and the tropical storm Sandy are expected to cripple life and livelihoods across the world. In fact, as the leader of the Philippine delegation emotionally pointed out, the world is running out of time -- his ocean nation has seen 17 killer typhoons in the past year.
Indrajit Bose, Doha Two weeks of intense climate negotiations ended rather dramatically at Doha on December 8, 2012. The countries gathered made sure they achieved the minimum required to let Qatar claim the meeting was not an abject failure. The long-term cooperative action or LCA track was closed. A second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol was agreed upon. And, a plan of work was laid out for the post 2020 agreement under the Durban Platform. Doha, however, with these three decisions, failed to do more than give the world a fig leaf to hide the fact that the environmental imperative of ambitious and quick action to reduce emissions had not been met.
Draft texts made, remade and re-remade: No consensus in sight COP President We can see the contours of a balanced package. It is clearly within reach. I understand every party may not be fully satisfied with the outcome. But I'd like you to not see things in isolation. Please consider for overall balance. Facilitators/Ministers/Co-chairs speak
Dec 5, 2012 Thank you chair, We need to see and ambitious results under the Kyoto Protocol(KP) as well as LCA track to inspire increased global efforts in future. Currently, there is a crisis of confidence. Despite Cancun pledges and KP commitments, we are yet to reach there. Not that we do not have a framework for it, it exists. Unfortunately, we have not implemented it. The central problem is not therefore of enhancing ambition at the global level, but of implementing commitments as per agreed principles. Availability of technologies and financial resources iskey to these commitments as far as developing countries are concerned.
By: Indrajit Bose Date: Dec 3, 2012 None of developing countries concerns reflect in the negotiating text, closure of LCA in Doha looks difficult The second week of the Doha talks opened amid high drama as developing countries unanimously rejected the “draft text” prepared by the chairperson of the ad-hoc working group on long-term cooperative action (AWG-LCA). Such a draft text details the areas of convergence and divergence on all issues that are to be taken up for further deliberations by parties. Read more
By: Indrajit Bose Date: Nov 28, 2012 Developing countries say the work plan can progress only if outstanding issues are resolved first Talks are now in full swing at the climate meet at Doha in Qatar. The negotiations, which are happening under three different tracks—ad hoc working groups on Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP), Long-Term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA) and Durban Platform—have all been launched. And the differences between the negotiating countries, or Parties as they are called in the climate circuit, are out in the open in all the three tracks. Read more
By: Indrajit Bose Date: Nov 29, 2012 US says no to equitable division of atmospheric space The US made it clear it is not on the same page on equity as the developing nations. On day 3 of the ongoing Conference of Parties on climate change (COP18) in Doha, the deputy chief climate envoy of the US, Jonathan Pershing, told NGOs in an informal briefing session that it would be hard for him to go back to the Congress and sell the idea of equity as espoused by the developing countries. Read more