International Climate Negotiations

Another round of climate negotiations within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change finished in Bonn, Germany. One of its main objectives was to facilitate the preparation of the text of the future Paris agreement, which is due to replace the Kyoto protocol. The draft document became shorter, yet the contradictions did not decrease, in neither number, nor magnitude

The work on the new international agreement that is due to be adopted at the climate summit in Paris in the end of this year continues. What are the main points of the new document? Are politicians’ plans close to what is expected from them by lay citizens? We decided to compare the preliminary text of the future agreement to the opinion of lay people who took part in global citizens’ consultations on climate and energy that took place as part of the global World Wide Views on Climate and Energy initiative

The 42nd session of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Chance) Subsidiary Bodies opened in Bonn, Germany. The main task that lies in front of the negotiators is to simplify the agreed-upon text of the agreement due to be adopted in Paris, later in December this year.

Climate talks in Geneva began on February 8th gathering all countries to negotiate on climate change. Here countries will make the first draft of the global climate agreement before the next round of talks in June. All this is happening when media are full of news like: 2014 was the hottest year in history of research, largest companies refuse to investment in fossil fuel and energy prices from renewable energy caught up with oil and gas.

Experts are positive that forests will play a significant role in the new climate agreement. Russia, being so rich in forests, is interested in a proper inventory and accounting system for its forestry and land use, say Environmental NGOs. However, now is the time to create real economic mechanisms that are instrumental in forest conservation and restoration.

The participants of the recently concluded UN Climate Talks in Lima, Peru, eventually managed to come to terms on the draft agreement. The deal that emerged early on Sunday found a solution by changing a single word – “shall” to “may”, with regard to the obligations of the Parties. Environmental NGOs do welcome the progress of the negotiations, but believe there will be no real progress without fleshing out the text with something more specific.

On the last day of Lima climate talks, Russia held an event titled ‘Goals and Objectives of the Russian Climate Policy up to 2020 and Prospects for 2030’. The same day Russia along with Ukraine and Belarus received the Fossil of the Day public anti-award for unconstructive behavior during the negotiations.

The first week of Lima talks did not result in any progress regarding the creation of the Green Climate Fund, and the adaptation issues were none of their priority. The new typhoon in the Philippines is symbolic of the cynicism of such an approach. The countries’ commitments to reduce their GHG emissions have failed to include any specific detail. The fossil fuel lobby keeps looking for loopholes to continue the fossil fuel industry development within the new climate agreement’s framework.

At the UN climate talks in Lima, Russian delegation continues to insist on a revision of the lists of developed and developing countries under the Convention on Climate Change. The statement by Alexander Bedritsky at the Kremlin website shows that Russia expects from other countries ambition to contribute in reducing emissions and wants to remain voluntary donor for adaptation funds. Interests of Gazprom represented in the official delegation of the Russian Federation attracted attention from observers.

In December, representatives of the states meet in Lima (Peru) at the UN Climate Conference - COP 20. The outcome of the event should be a draft of a comprehensive agreement to be signed in 2015. Representatives of public environmental organizations urge countries to work together to prepare an ambitious and meaningful new agreement.position NGO Lima COP