CAN awards the United States Fossil of the Day Award, June 8, 2011.
Day 3 at the UN Bonn Climate Talks ended with UNFCCC executive secretary Christiana Figueres expressing pessimism over the possibility of negotiating a Phase 2 to the Kyoto Protocol, set to expire in 2012.
"Even if they were able to agree on a legal text for a second commitment period that requires an amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, it requires legislative ratifications on the part of three-quarters of the parties, so we would assume that there's no time to do that between Durban and the end of 2012," she said.
Bolivia's ambassador Pablo Solon, while agreeing with Figueres and supporting the renewal of Kyoto in Durban, suggested immediately taxing international financial transactions to generate “real funds" to help developing countries mitigate and adapt to climate change. To date, most of the $30 billion pledged in 2009 at COP15 to “fast-start” financing has yet to show up in the coffers of the world's most vulnerable nations.
“We cannot come out of South Africa with the targets we have now, as the UN Environment Programme has shown they will lead us to 4 degrees Celsius of global warming," Solon said. "We must have targets that limit temperature rise to between 1C and 1.5C to preserve life.” (Source: Call for tax on financial deals to fight global warming.Irish Times. 6/8/2011.
Today was World Oceans Day, so designated at the first 1992 World Summit in Rio. And while the urgency of addressing the 30% increase in ocean acidity is high on the NRDC agenda for Rio+20, the Bonn talks continue to be gridlocked by power politics and a lack of transparency as most important policy talks continue behind closed doors.
As Antonio Guterres, UN high commissioner for refugees, spoke in Oslo, issuing two warnings about climate change, extreme weather and climate refugees ...
slow onset disasters like drought and desertification that lead to "a tipping point at which people's lives and livelihoods come under such serious threat that they have no choice but to leave their homes", and "natural disasters [that] uproot large numbers of people in a matter of hours".
... Greenpeace's Tove Ryding told diplomats at the Bonn Talks
"What we are talking about here is actually millions of green jobs, to transform our societies to energy systems that are safe, that are stable and that are based on renewable energy and energy efficiency."
... And
Climate Action Network (CAN) awarded the United States the "Fossil of the Day Award" for opposing long-term Climate finance discussions in the LCA (Long Term Cooperative Action).
In other unsettling news from Bonn, the prospect of a 'Climate Justice Protocol' plummeted even further with the announcement that Nigeria, recognized as a leading negotiator for climate justice for the African Continent, has secured only one spot on 200-strong African block. (Nigeria: only 1 spot on list of 200 Africa Reps at Climate talks)
The African representatives include: South Africa 29 (including the national focal person), Ghana 6, Sudan 5, Gambia 3, Senegal 8, Mali 4, Kenya 5, Malawi 4, Egypt 6, Ethiopia 2, Benin 2, Angola 2, Algeria 7, Congo 2, DR Congo 18, Gabon 6, Tanzania 7, Togo 3, Zambia 4.
The Transitional Committee for the Design of the Green Climate Fund, has members from eight African countries (South Africa, Gabon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, DR Congo, Burkina Faso and Zambia, with South Africa one of the three co-chairs of the committee.
Yesterday, during a workshop to discuss the design and operation of the Climate Fund, developing countries expressed concerns over the role of both carbon markets and the private sector in generating climate finance. Most industrialized countries, on the other hand, emphasized the need for 'predictable and sustained funds' which were only possible through "public sector financing on an assessed basis." (Transition Committee workshop discusses Climate Fund design*. World Bank out of Climate Finance. June 7, 2011.)
Educate Yourself
Become involved in the UNFCCC talks. Follow their progress. Define your position. Recognize that an informed and involved citizenry is mandatory for these talks to succeed.
• Watch the UNFCCC webcasts
• Download Daily CAN ECO newsletters
• Follow daily reports from Adopt a Negotiator
• Bookmark the UNFCCC calendar
• Familiarize yourself with some of the official UNFCCC negotiating lingo (or the more user-friendly Jargon Buster)
• Read CANs expectations for Durban
Endnotes:
• Watch Acid Test
Ocean Acidification: The Other CO2 Problem
Increased carbon dioxide is changing the chemistry of the earth’s oceans, threatening marine life
Earth’s atmosphere isn’t the only victim of burning fossil fuels. About a quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions are absorbed by the earth’s oceans, where they’re having an impact that’s just starting to be understood.
Over the last decade, scientists have discovered that this excess CO2 is actually changing the chemistry of the sea and proving harmful for many forms of marine life. This process is known as ocean acidification.
• Note: Emerging Actors in Development Finance: A Closer Look at Chinese and Brazilian Overseas Investments
Expanding South-South trade and investment provides welcome and needed sources of capital for countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. At the same time, these financial flows – coupled with the emergence of powerful financial actors from China, India, Brazil, and other economies – may pose new challenges for environmental and social sustainability.
Backgrounders:
Hope in a Stalk of Grain: Bonn Climate Talks Tackle Reality
Green Climate Fund Fraud: Another World Bank Coup
cochabamba +1: climate justice protocol
climate justice & global democracy: COP17 leadup: II
battle for COP17 @WSF
DKGreenRoots: COPs=Conferences of Polluters & dethroning king coal 2011
1:50 AM PT: Press Release issued 6/9:
G77: MAKE NO MISTAKE -
THIS IS NOT A PROCEDURAL NEGOTIATION
BONN - Wenesday, when asked about the progress in discussing the agendas of the Subsidiary Bodies that are working in Bonn, at UN Climate talks the Chair of the Group of 77 and China explained:
"Make no mistake - this is not a procedural question. This discussion will decide what remains on the negotiation table. What is at stake is the chance for Durban to mean we get back on track in order to preserve the environment." Jorge Argüello, Ambassador of Argentina to the United Nations and Chairman of the Group of 77 and China said.
Ambassador Arguello, as well as many members of the Group, are actively engaged trying to find definitions so the work in SBI and SABSTA can start succesfully.
"There is very little chance of success for our work if we do not address the different elements of a comprehensive and balanced outcome for Durban. The agreement in Cancun was to continue to work on the pending issues, some of which are key for progress in this year, not just for developing countries but for the majority of the parties. Yet, we are faced with the inflexibility form some parties, who are determined to prejudge the results of Durban without even the chance for a dialogue on the substance". Ambassador Arguello said.
The Chair of the Group of 77 and China and other heads of delegations met more than once with the Chairs of each of the four bodies in session, as well as working meetings with the US Delegation, the European Union Delegation and key actors in UNFCCC, including the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Christiana Figueres.
After a meeting Wednesday Ambassador Argûello commented that "Some say that we are discussing the agenda and getting bogged down with procedural matter. Make no mistake: this is not a procedural negotiation. The negotiations are highly political - what is at stake here is whether or not we are going to work on the issues that need to be addressed so that we can have an agreement in Durban. All parties made commitments in Bali, decisions were taken in Cancun, and some parties are now trying to preclude any chance of completing the negotiations from the start, by going back on those commitments".