At the daily press
conference of the Climate Action Network (CAN) on Wednesday, December 2nd,
2015, panelists commented on the first day of negotiations and the further
actions needed to achieve a sustainable and effective deal at COP 21 in Paris.
Alden Meyers, director of strategy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, argued that after day one’s initial optimism due to head of state speeches, negotiations have stalled especially in the areas of climate finance. CAN called for a general need to “scale up” financial commitments, especially by developed countries, to mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damages. They stipulated that these contributions must be new contributions and separate from existing aid packages, thus increasing the availability of funds in developing countries most vulnerable to climate change.
Alden Meyers, director of strategy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, argued that after day one’s initial optimism due to head of state speeches, negotiations have stalled especially in the areas of climate finance. CAN called for a general need to “scale up” financial commitments, especially by developed countries, to mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damages. They stipulated that these contributions must be new contributions and separate from existing aid packages, thus increasing the availability of funds in developing countries most vulnerable to climate change.
CAN discussed the European Union’s
role in negotiation, noting their general partnership with lesser developed
countries (LDCs), but their lack of action in mobilizing these alliances. They also commented on the exclusion of the
EU from negotiations, much like the events of Copenhagen in 2009. CAN argued that “strong signals” are needed
from the EU in order to achieve a lasting agreement.
India’s negotiating position was also discussed and their role as either a leader in or a blocking force for an agreement in Paris. As the world’s thirds largest emitter but with a low per capita emissions and huge need for electricity, India is poised to either be a leader in clean energy development or to continue on a path of traditional carbon emitting fuels. 1/3rd of India’s population is also vulnerable to the effects of climate change, making adaptation and loss and damage aspects of the agreement especially important.
India’s negotiating position was also discussed and their role as either a leader in or a blocking force for an agreement in Paris. As the world’s thirds largest emitter but with a low per capita emissions and huge need for electricity, India is poised to either be a leader in clean energy development or to continue on a path of traditional carbon emitting fuels. 1/3rd of India’s population is also vulnerable to the effects of climate change, making adaptation and loss and damage aspects of the agreement especially important.
Ultimately, the key issue of for Indian negotiators is the issue of finance, with a CAN representative reporting the Indian positions saying: “finance is the accelerator to the common finish line of less than 2 degrees warming.” In order to reach that goal, India says the agreement must mobilize finances and technology for low carbon development and that schedules agreements to increase ambitions over time.
No comments:
Post a Comment