I left Wellington on Friday afternoon en route for the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, being held in Copenhagen till 18 December. I’ve been thinking about what might realistically come out of the Conference.
COP15’s principal purpose is to negotiate a replacement treaty for the Kyoto Protocol. The major issue to be resolved is how to share the burden of cutting emissions of greenhouse gases. Countries like New Zealand – amongst the 35 richest in the world by average per person wealth – burnt significant amounts of fossil fuels to attain our current level of economic development. We need to commit to more ambitious future emissions reduction targets as we transition to a less carbon-intensive future. Countries that are still developing their economies – at present largely by burning fossil fuels – need to agree to reductions in their burgeoning emissions. In each case, a just transition is required.
An effective compromise between these two groups of nations is key to a successful outcome. This will have to include transfers of financial and technological assistance from developed to developing countries so the latter grow more cleanly and can better adapt to the climatic shifts that are believed to be already underway and which are predicted to intensify. Also on the COP15 agenda are other complex subsidiary issues, ranging from expanding international carbon trading to reducing emissions from deforestation.
Until as late as last week, New Zealand’s National-led Government assumed that the differences between developed and developing nations would be simply too great to be bridged at COP15. There is no denying the difficulty of the issues, as the initial days of the Conference have demonstrated. Nor, however, can the determination of some of the major players – notably the US, the EU, China and India – to see a deal done, even if in broad outline, with the detail to be worked out in subsidiary talks over the coming year. That’s certainly an outcome I hope to see.
Tomorrow, subject to any other developments from COP15, I plan to blog about what I think New Zealand’s particular aspirations for COP15 should be.
@Trev – First!!!
I agree that deforestation needs to be addressed, those orangutans need saving too.
Are you sailing a yacht or swimming to Denmark, Charles, or will your chosen means of transport contribute to glacial melting, sea level rising, polar bear extinction and malaria in Dunedin?
The plane would be flying anyway.
“I plan to blog about what I think New Zealand’s particular aspirations for COP15 should be”
Charles .. we all , give or take a few billion, have opinions on what their countries aspirations should be.
I really don’t see the value of your opinion in that is it an opinion of an “expert” or that of Joe Citizen?
I’m not trying to be rude but gee .. so called experts can’t agree on this issue so your opinion is no more authoritive than anyone else.
Much of what you have said above sounds great .. can’t wait to see you convince the world you have the answer.
just been reading the Sunday Star Times article about our official and business people unable to get into meetings because of about 30,000 people (including 5,000 journs) fighting for the same space. It’s getting to be a farce.
Well done spud
Thanks Trev
j, abba – I think it’s good that he’s going as spokeperson for this etc etc. I no longer care because of climate gate, but isn’t it nice that he gets to see Denmark?
that’s the problem spud .. he isn’t a spokesman with any official authority but yes, it would be a neat experience.
Better get in for a look while it’s above water.
Charles, this is the type of thinking I keep hoping our government will do. But it’s very clear from the ETS that there is precious little forward thinking going on that doesn’t involve the best interests of business rather than the environment and, therefore, us. Look forward to more posts from you on this.
What a waste of time not much will come out of the meeting it’s all been a carbon burning exercise.
None of the 85 countries scheduled to speak at the United Nations meeting after 6pm on Thursday will be represented by their leader, despite the speaking segment being called “heads of state and heads of government”. International heavyweights whose leaders will most likely be toasting royalty while the talks continue include the hosts, Denmark, the United States and Britain
Our PM doesn’t agree with you Doug, though perhaps for a different reason. “…it makes sense for me to be there because actually it’s important we don’t get signed up to something that we don’t agree with and we also get to put our case.” So effectively Key is saying, I should be there but only so I can ensure my friends in business that we will continue to do as little as possible.