The Summit on Climate Change held in Copenhagen reunited 40 countries and aimed at developing strategies for the fight against global warming. However, the “Compromise Agreement”, as it was called by the press, was signed at the last minute, the main problems being the US and China, who didn’t want to pay the price of pollution and who didn’t agree with the establishment of clear objectives for the diminution of greenhouse gas emissions. The compromise was reached after a meeting between American President Barack Obama, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and South-African President Jacob Zuma.
During December 7 – 18, 2009, the Danish capital hosted the largest summit on climate change organised until now. Over 15.000 representatives from 192 countries, presidents, prime ministers, environmental protection ministers and representatives from UN agencies tried to reach an agreement that would replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.
During the two weeks, discussions focused on the measures which should be taken in order to reduce global warming by only two degrees Celsius. The summit was one step away from failure, the cause being the objections raised by the US and China. According to the initial document, the more developed countries should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, and the ones under development by up to 30%. The compromise reached stipulates a two-degrees reduction in the temperature by 2050.
One of the major challenges raised concern the allocation of funds for the countries under development in order to reduce pollution. Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said that “the more developed countries should provide immediate funding of at least US 10 Billion per year by 2012”.
The Copenhagen Agreement stipulates financing of US 30 Billion for the less developed countries, allocated between 2010 – 2012, as well as a US 100 Billion target per year by 2020. “This funding will come from a wide variety of sources, both public and private, bilateral and multilateral, including alternative financing sources”, shows the Frame Agreement. However, the document doesn’t stipulate clearly which countries will have to pay this amount, nor how the money will be collected. The agreement doesn’t stipulate any concrete figures concerning the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. “The agreement is not legally binding, but it will allow every country to show the world what it plans to do with the money. This way, we will know who observes the obligations and who doesn’t”, said US President Barack Obama.
The Frame Agreement demands that the industrialized countries and the ones under development confirm in writing their commitment to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by the end of January. The agreement also stipulates a number of mechanisms that guarantee transparency in application. However, a clear deadline for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions was not established.
Following the objections raised by Bolivia, Venezuela and Sudan concerning the fact that the agreement doesn’t stipulate clear objectives for the reduction of CO2 emissions, new negotiations will be held in six months’ time in Bonn. “New negotiations will be held in Bonn “in six months’ time” for the preparation of the next conference on climate change, which will be held at the end of 2010 in Mexico”, said French President Nicolas Sarkozy. He added that the Agreement lacks two things: a target for global CO2 emission reduction by 2050 and the creation of an international environmental organisation that monitors the implementation of the measures in every country.
by Pamela Luică
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