UN climate talks are moving forward, but with a pace which is far to slow. After one week of negotiations in Bonn, Germany, one can start to wonder if these talks can deliver an agreement. The text is full of brackets, and different options, and it is impressive how anyone can have an overview. How is it possible to make an agreement out such a text?
Well, luckily, there might be some shortcuts. Slow pace could eventually change to high speed, if some of the key conflicts are resolved. I would suggest making an effort to solve the following issues.
Who should do what?
Firstly, parties need to agree on how to share the tasks. So called “effort sharing” is a key challenge as every country wants to ensure that they are not doing more than their fair share. The problem is that there is no agreement about “fairness” or “equity” as it is referred to in the UN talks. Some developing countries argue that the old division between “developed” and “developing” countries should continue, meaning that developed countries, with high historic responsibility and capability, should do more. Western countries on the other hand, argue that the world is changing and that there is need for a differentiated approach, sharing the burden between all countries, depending on their capacities.
Ideally, I would like efforts to be shared based on a differentiated approach, considering countries responsibility, and capability, as well as their need to develop. The Paris agreement, to be adopted in December, should last for several decades, and I believe the economic and political powers of the world will change many time in this period.
Who will pay the bill?
Secondly, parties need to agree how to mobilize climate finance. There is an urgent need for investments in both mitigation and adaptation, and the money must be found. A number of the recent national climate pledges made by countries, are conditional, indicating that their ambition will depend on available finance. At the same time, current development in poor and vulnerable countries may be reversed if investments in adaptation is not prioritized.
There is a need to agree both on how to scale up climate finance in the coming years, and on how to ensure sustained levels of climate finance in the decades to come. The need for funding will continue as countries start the transformation towards green and resilient development.
No one should be left behind!
Both mitigation and adaptation are part of the core climate negotiations. However, what happens when it no longer is possible to adapt to the effects of climate change? When people and communities are facing loss, and their properties are damaged. Loss and damage is an increasing problem, and in the decades to come the number of people who are forced to leave their homes because of effects of climate change, will explode.
For a long time Western countries have refused to give attention to loss and damage, and it has thus been one of the difficult elements of the UN climate talks. However, during the last week, negotiations about loss and damage have progressed and there is at least increased understanding, and willingness to move forward.
Moving from “slow” to “fast”
There is one negotiation session left before the climate summit in Paris in December. Time is running out and the negotiation text is still full of brackets. However, if parties manage to solve the three issues above, I believe we will soon have a clean draft agreement.