Your Daily Guide to COP18

Your daily guide to COP18

Day 2 – 27th November

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What is happening in the negotiations?

The Conference of Parties (COP) 18 has begun in Doha at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC).

In her opening speech at COP18, UN Climate talks Executive Secretary Christiana Figueresoutlined the importance of this year’s conference in terms of its unique geo-political location. COP 18 is the first ever to take place in the Gulf Region and at a time too when there is much uncertainty around the world. Following the two Mega COPs in Kyoto and Bali, she expected COP18 to be a major event and an opportunity to build a strong platform for turning the “Bali Action Plan” into “Real Action”.

However, before this is possible a whole host of issues need to be resolved, including crucially how to spread the burden of emissions cuts between rich and poor countries. That's unlikely to be decided in the two-week talks here in Doha, as the focus of the negotiators will lay on extending the Kyoto Protocol, brokering an emissions deal for industrialized countries, and trying to raise billions of dollars to help developing countries adapt to a shifting climate.

The goal of the UN talks is to keep the global temperature rise under 2 degrees C, compared to pre-industrial times.

Most of day 1 passed without much action, however to ensure a global climate change deal is possible, Doha has to resolve following critical issues:

The Conference must finalise and adopt a meaningful and effective second commitment to the Kyoto Protocol.

It must address outstanding issues under the Convention track, in accordance with the 2007 ‘Bali mandate’

It must set the negotiations under the ‘Durban Platform for Enhanced Action’ and so pave the way for a new climate agreement by 2015.

The rich-poor countries divide continues to deepen as the arguments about whether to help developing countries convert to cleaner energy sources and adapt their infrastructure to rising sea levels and other effects of global warming persist. China and other developing countries want to maintain a clear division, saying climate change is mainly a legacy of Western industrialization and that their own emissions must be allowed to grow as their economies expand, lifting millions of people out of poverty.
This discord scuttled attempts to forge a climate deal in Copenhagen in 2009 and risks a relapse in Doha as talks begin on a new global deal that is supposed to be adopted in 2015 and implemented in 2020.

Words from a partner

Interview with MithikaMwenda

Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)

What is PACJA expecting from the negotiations in Doha?

We expect first and foremost the conclusion of the negotiations as set out in the Durban platform, in addition to settling the outstanding issues relating to the 2nd commitment period. Issues related to climate finance are also critical. The Green Climate fund is now up and running but we are still concerned that there is little money on the table. Rich countries promised 100 billion dollars for long term finance between the 2013 and 2020 without clarifying where the money was coming from. And of course, following the LCA collapse in Doha there are a number of issues that have not be addressed and remain unresolved.

Finance for adaptation in Africa, is very important for us and we want to see concrete actions on this front. It is also key to have equity

embedded in the negotiations moving forward. The common but differentiated responsibilities and capabilities –all those things must be clarified. Equity must become a key issue in the negotiations.

PACJA has been active in the negotiations for a number of years now, organising a Climate Justice Caravan last year in Durban . What progress have you made?

PACJA became one of the key actors, not only with regard to climate change issues within Africa, but also at an international level. We have a large delegation here, which is actually making Africa very visible, something that never used to happen back in 2008. This is certainly something to be happy about, as is the opportunity to work with Christian Aid, Aprodev and other partners. I think we have definitely reached some of the milestones we set for ourselves four years ago. We’ve shown too what excellent collaboration between organisations and a genuine commitment from all involved can achieve.

Looking forward

Side event: "Closing the Equity Gap - Is Equity an enabler or barrier to increasing ambition?"

When: Wednesday, 28th November,

Time and location: 15.00-16.30 in Room 4

With Aprodev, this event convenes developing country experts and European policy makers to discuss how equity and the right to sustainable development can form the foundation for the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action.

Side Event: The prominence of Equity in UNFCCC process - What does it mean to different parties?

When: Wednesday, 27th November

Time and location: 20:15 – 21:45 in Room 4

The meeting will bring together Governments, CSOs from both South and North to discuss frankly the subject of equity in the context of the Durban Platform and future climate change regime.