Stage set for a bad deal at Copenhagen

Stage set for a bad deal at Copenhagen

* The US White House issues statement (see below), just after the Indian environment minister’s statement in Parliament. Declares that there is now an emerging consensus on a global deal in Copenhagen based on the ‘Danish Proposal’.

* The White House has lauded India’s and China’s new emissions intensity targets, but has only pledged to cut US emissions to just 3 per cent below 1990 levels – though, for meeting the 2 degree centigrade target, the US must cut down its emissions by 40 per cent.
* The White House makes it clear that India issued targets for carbon intensity because of bilateral meetings with the US president and months of diplomatic activity.
* The problem: the Danish Proposal would do away with the distinction between developed and developing nations. Also, it negates the concept of historical responsibility and would eliminate internationally binding targets. Instead, every nation would ‘pledge’ voluntary action based on domestic legislation.
* This will be an end to the Kyoto Protocol and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
* The worst case scenario appears to have been realised: the world is most likely to have a bad deal at Copenhagen.

Source: CSE Note

Statement from the White House Press Secretary on the United Nations Climate Change Conference

The President strongly believes that all nations have a responsibility to combat the threat of climate change. He has already taken unprecedented action to do so at home, including an historic investment in clean energy solutions that will reduce our dependence on oil and create jobs. Abroad, he has engaged leaders bilaterally and multilaterally on the issue of climate change, and agreed to participate in the climate conference in Copenhagen.

After months of diplomatic activity, there is progress being made towards a meaningful Copenhagen accord in which all countries pledge to take action against the global threat of climate change. Following bilateral meetings with the President and since the United States announced an emissions reduction target that reflects the progress being made in Congress towards comprehensive energy legislation, China and India have for the first time set targets to reduce their carbon intensity. There has also been progress in advancing the Danish proposal for an immediate, operational accord that covers all of the issues under negotiation, including the endorsement of key elements of this approach by the 53 countries represented at the Commonwealth Summit last weekend.

This week, the President discussed the status of the negotiations with Prime Minister Rudd, Chancellor Merkel, President Sarkozy, and Prime Minister Brown and concluded that there appears to be an emerging consensus that a core element of the Copenhagen accord should be to mobilize $10 billion a year by 2012 to support adaptation and mitigation in developing countries, particularly the most vulnerable and least developed countries that could be destabilized by the impacts of climate change. The United States will pay its fair share of that amount and other countries will make substantial commitments as well.

In Copenhagen, we also need to address the need for financing in the longer term to support adaptation and mitigation in developing countries. Providing this assistance is not only a humanitarian imperative – it’s an investment in our common security, as no climate change accord can succeed if it does not help all countries reduce their emissions.

Based on his conversations with other leaders and the progress that has already been made to give momentum to negotiations, the President believes that continued US leadership can be most productive through his participation at the end of the Copenhagen conference on December 18th rather than on December 9th. There are still outstanding issues that must be negotiated for an agreement to be reached, but this decision reflects the President’s commitment to doing all that he can to pursue a positive outcome.

The United States will have representation in Copenhagen throughout the negotiating process by State Department negotiators and Cabinet officials who will highlight the great strides we have made this year towards a clean energy economy.