UN reminds rich countries of climate promises
BERLIN – As another difficult round of climate talks approached, the United Nations urged rich countries Tuesday to live up to their promises of help for poor nations in the fight against global warming.
Outgoing U.N. climate chief Yvo de Boer said that, to make headway toward a global climate deal, industrialized nations need to come up with the $30 billion in aid they have promised for the next three years.
Also, negotiators need to focus on a "concrete and realistic goal" for the next major U.N. climate conference in Cancun, Mexico, in December, he said.
"Cancun can deliver if promises of help are kept and if promises to compromise are honored in the negotiations," de Boer said.
Negotiators from around the world plan to meet May 31 in Bonn for two weeks of expert-level talks on the sketchy draft of a new international climate treaty that would take effect after 2012.
De Boer said the session could "significantly advance that text," but stressed that "higher political guidance is required to find ways forward."
The talks come about six months after the U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen. Many environmentalists and political leaders had hoped that summit would produce a breakthrough on fighting global warming, but it came up only with a nonbinding political declaration, the so-called Copenhagen Accord.
That included the $30 billion pledge by industrialized countries for the years 2010-2012 to help poor nations fight climate change and cope with its effects, including droughts or floods.
De Boer said that promise needs to be met to build trust.
"Times are harsh, especially in Europe, but $10 billion a year for three years from all industrialized countries is not an impossible call," he said.
"If developing countries are given the ways and means to act on all aspects of mitigation and adaptation, it will establish firm ground for bigger ambition."
De Boer announced earlier this year that he will quit by July 1. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Costa Rican climate expert Christiana Figueres to succeed him.
De Boer has made it clear that he does not expect a comprehensive treaty in Cancun. Instead, he now talks only of an "operational architecture" he thinks can be finalized there.
"There is a growing consensus on what that first goal can be — namely a full, operational architecture to implement effective, collective climate action," he said Tuesday.
In Copenhagen, negotiators agreed that global warming must be limited to less that 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) compared to preindustrial times. However, the individual pledges by nations around the world to cut their greenhouse gases aren't yet ambitious enough to meet that goal, de Boer said.
Industrialized nations also promised they would shore up their aid to poor nations from the initial $10 billion a year to an annual $100 billion by 2020 — but they have not said how they want to generate that kind of money, de Boer noted.
Negotiators are still at odds whether or not the new treaty should be "legally binding," and what that would mean — the climate chief said.
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June 3, 2010 at 6:56 PM
Global warming is slowly destroying our world piece by piece. The major reason for this is that we, the people are emitting too much chemicals and gases into the air. We are basically polluting our land.
The environment is a very special thing to all of us. These surroundings are the reasons why we are living today. Everyone should be helping to keep OUR world clean and safe and should work on reducing their amounts of gases emitted.
I agree that these rich countries should continue to live up to their promises to contribute to the aid of the global warming fight.
This article made me feel secure because someone is still reminding others that they need to go through with what they promised and help create a better environment. I find that De Boer’s determination was necessary and will continue to create a big impact on other countries which promised to reduce their emissions.
June 5, 2010 at 9:32 AM
No matter which angle we look at it, we're all human beings and we all live on this beautiful home called Earth. Unfortunatly, our home needs a little repair and some of us can't pay for it. Well, as nice humans, wouldn't it be logical for those WITH the money to help those who are in financial despair? It's true, we're all in some financial problem but countries such as Canada are able to get out of a recession quickly, which we are demonstrating. However, the issue at hand is NOT the recession. No, it's about global warming, something that is killing our atmosphere slowly. We need to take some serious actions and help those who need our financial aid. I think that when it comes to the environment, cost shouldn't be thought of because our home is priceless and there is only one of it. We also need to give some moral support to those who are trying to come up with a solution. Many are unenthusiastic about this issue and therefore, leaders aren't taking lots of action. I think Canadians should pressure our PM in taking a leadership role and rally the other countries into donating money. There's still 3 more years left however, we have a goal of $30 billion. Reminding countries to set some money aside now will ensure less impact on the economy and people. The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico should open some eyes. Now that a important resource is limited, it should get leaders thinking about laws that will preserve oil and move toward a greener Earth. But seriously, do we really have to spill oil to start talking about the environment? No, when this issue dies down, we shouldn't stop trying to save the environment. We have to continue fighting and coming up with solutions. Canada should be the leader and promote greener lifestyles. I don't know about you but I kinda like living on Earth and I'm not too keen on moving.
June 6, 2010 at 11:26 AM
Climate change is a natural disaster that we are slowly starting to see the effects of. We see certain animals’ behaviour change and others slowly start to become extinct. We witness glaciers melting and humid temperatures break world records. We experience more natural disasters that occur from the increased humidity such as: hurricanes. Climate change is a global problem that we can no longer ignore which is why I think it is important to take action against it.
Since industrialized countries are major producers of greenhouse gases, I agree that they should be the ones funding poorer nations who are suffering from the damages. Developed nations should provide funding to take responsibility for their actions. Their daily actions creates pollution which third world countries have to live with. The results of developed nations’ pollution is a burden that should not just be carried by poorer nations-it is something we need to hold richer nations accountable for. Furthermore, industrialized countries’ have the money to pay for it. Compared to third world countries whose economy is uncompetitive in the global market, richer nations have the money capable of financing the support needed to help stop climate change. The solution to climate change starts with enforcing developed nations, who can not feel the direct impacts of their pollution, to help poorer nations through financial aid.
-Nancy Khuu