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Doha Getaway: World on line for new regime, US on track to escape

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.

Stocktaking by CoP18 President, December 7, 2012

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

Intervention by Ms. Mira Mehrishi, AS, MoEF, India during informal Ministerial roundtable

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.

Developing countries unanimously reject LCA text

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

Work plan under Durban Platform may prove contentious

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

'We cannot sell the idea of equity back home,' says US negotiator

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

India protects its farmers' interests at climate talks

By: Indrajit Bose Date: Dec 3, 2012 Successfully stalls attempts of developed countries’ move to bring agriculture under mitigation efforts India fiercely defended its farmers’ interests as the first week of Doha climate talks continued up to the wee hours of Sunday, December 2. Taking a firm stand that agriculture was a clear out-of-bounds sector with respect to emissions reduction, India stalled all attempts of the developed world to further discuss the issue in the ongoing CoP 18. The developing world’s long-standing position has been that any discussion on agriculture must be held in the realm of adaptation, not mitigation. The developed world wants to introduce the element of mitigation in agriculture. Read more

Fight over finance: where's the money? ask developing countries

By: Arnab Pratim Date: Dec 3, 2012 Developed countries shy away from promising more money to developing nations from next year till 2020 for mitigation and adaptation measures Climate finance will be on the top of the minds of negotiators as the UN conference on climate change at Doha enters the second week on December 3. In the first seven days of the conference, the developed countries shied away from promising more money from next year until 2020 to developing countries to undertake mitigation and adaptation measures. The US $30 billion fast-start funding which started in 2010 ends this year and the next batch of funding, which is still under deliberation, begins only in 2020. Read more

Updates

Superstorm ‘Sandy’ tells us why the climate change denial must stop I start this blog on climate politics as tropical superstorm Sandy expends its fury on the eastern coast of the US. The satellite imagery shows the movement of the gathering storm as it builds and breaks over land, bringing with it massive destruction and massive upheaval in the wealthiest and most powerful nation of the world. More by Sunita Narain