Barcelona climate talks turn up heat on US |
http://www.euractiv.com/en/climate-change/barcelona-climate-talks-turn-heat-us/article-187010
Pressure on the United States to define emission reduction goals and move on climate funding is mounting this week in Barcelona, where the UN climate negotiations are trying to make progress towards a post-Kyoto agreement.
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer stated that any deal would have to involve the United States, which has the largest historical responsibility of emissions.
Speaking at the start of the five-day negotiations on Monday (2 November), de Boer called for clarity on the developed countries' emission reduction targets for 2020, referring specifically to the US that has not been able to provide a clear commitment as the domestic climate legislation has been delayed by the Senate.
"I do not think the international community will accept an agreement that lacks clarity from the US on targets," de Boer was reported as saying.
At the same time, Danish Climate and Energy Minister Connie Hedegaard warned President Barack Obama not to come to Copenhagen empty-handed. The host of the Copenhagen conference at which a new treaty is set to be agreed in December pointed out that the US could not continue hiding behind the Senate, as it is not the only country experiencing difficulties in passing domestic climate legislation.
The EU was equally critical of the United States, and said it was now actively pressuring Washington to make commitments.
"We have taken our obligations seriously and will meet our targets […] We want all developed countries to commit to internationally binding, quantified, emission limitation reduction commitments. And all countries should take immediate action," said Swedish Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren.
The EU came to the negotiations with the upper hand after a European summit last week agreed on the amount of aid that is needed to finance climate efforts in developing countries. No other developed country has put any figures on the table yet, and they must now respond to the EU's proposal that between €22 and €50 billion a year by 2020 should be made available by member states, towards a required annual total of €100 billion in international public financing.
"The magnitude of long-term finance has been recognised, but more clarity on precise contributions from industrialised countries is needed ahead of Copenhagen, and above all clarity on what the prompt start-up finance will be to unleash urgent action in developing countries," the UN's de Boer said.
Africa threatens suspension of talks
The souring mood against the inability of the US to provide any clarity on clear targets was also evident among developing countries.
African countries called for the suspension of all further talks on the Kyoto Protocol until substantial progress is made on rich countries' emission reduction targets. They have taken a strong common position that any agreement will need to be supported by substantial commitments from developed countries to cut emissions and provide aid according to their historical responsibility.
Carlgren stressed that the proposed climate funding would not jeopardise continued process towards the Millennium Development Goals. According to sources, the Swedish EU Presidency will organise an additional Environment Council in late November where the issue of additionality of climate funding to existing development aid will likely feature on the agenda.
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