Tag Archives: UNFCCC

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21 October 2015, Renew Economy, No more dirty COPs – NGOs want fossil fuel lobbies excluded from climate talks. A report from InfluenceMap that exposes Big Oil’s true intentions in climate policy has led to new calls for representatives of fossil fuel companies to be excluded from the upcoming talks on climate change in Paris. The talks, known as the Conference of the Parties (COP21) traditionally have large inputs from industry, NGOs and “civil society”, unlike other international negotiations. A campaign called Kick Big Polluters Out is being launched during the final week of the UNCCC negotiations ahead of Paris. “Around the globe people are calling for action now. We don’t have time to waste; governments must act now,” said Jesse Bragg of Corporate Accountability International, “There are too many lives at risk today to leave tomorrow up to the climate offenders that are driving the problem.” Interference from the fossil fuel industry is proving an obstacle at almost every level, from direct sponsorship of the UNFCCC talks, to the release of a pro-oil report by an alliance between some of the world’s largest oil and gas producers. The report advocates industry friendly “market-placed” solutions. Industry involvement in policy making is not only allowed, but encouraged. Shell & BHP announced a few weeks ago a partnership with McKinsey Consulting  to “advise” governments on climate policy. These are similar tactics deployed by Big Tobacco as it attempted to position itself on the side of health and reason, whilst simultaneously staving off any action on Tobacco. Read More here

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19 October 2015, Climate Home, UN climate text swells as G77 flexes muscles in Bonn. Developing countries add more than 50 elements to UN’s draft Paris deal, complaining of bias towards richer nations. Time-pressed talks on a global climate deal faced delays on Monday after the co-chairs guiding the process accepted their proposed draft agreement lacked support from most countries. UN officials had presented a radically cut 20-page set of proposals earlier this month, but their work was shredded in an intense and angry morning session in Bonn. Instead of planned negotiations, the text swelled rapidly on a binge of over 50 so-called“surgical insertions” from countries, most ranging between 1-2 pages. Most submissions came from the Africa Group and G77+ China, reflecting their frustration at what they argued was a text tilted in favour of richer nations. Report: Developing countries demand additions to slimmed-down climate text. South African ambassador Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko, representing the 134-strong G77+ China group, said developing country views had been excised from the shorter text. The obligation of rich countries to provide climate finance and help poorer nations cope with expected extreme weather events were specific concerns raised by her group. Experts say planned greenhouse gas emission cuts from major economies are nowhere near enough to limit warming to below the 2C danger zone, meaning many vulnerable countries could face more floods, droughts and rising sea levels. Read More here

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19 October 2015, The Guardian, France launches global drive for climate deal. Diplomats mobilised for unprecedented PR push, with Paris summit seen as last chance to reach agreement. France has launched an unprecedented diplomatic drive to shepherd nations big and small towards a major climate change deal, ahead of a Paris summit next month that is the next major make-or-break moment for the movement against global warming. Every one of France’s ambassadors, in embassies and consulates around the globe, has been educated on the demands of climate change, and instructed in how to communicate the messages to the governments they deal with, ahead of the summit, which starts on 30 November. Ambassadors have been holding public events, private meetings, talks with their diplomatic counterparts, businesses, NGOs and even schoolchildren. At home, the outer walls of the foreign ministry, a stately 19th-century edifice on the banks of the Seine, are covered in a series of banners declaring, in several languages, the messages of Paris Climat 2015. Even the Eiffel Tower, further down the riverbank, has been pressed into service, lit up at night with climate slogans. François Hollande, the president of France, has been visiting world leaders for the past year, urging them to come to Paris. Laurent Fabius, foreign minister, who will be in charge of the talks, has made it his mission, with a punishing schedule of events and public speaking. Ségolène Royal, environment minister and co-host, has also been touring capitals and conferences. Climate diplomacy has never seen such a concerted push. Read More here

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12 October 2015, Climate Institute, Draft Paris agreement shows many countries still pushing for <1.5°C. Earlier last week the co-chairs of the process to the Paris climate summit released the draft agreement and draft decisions for the outcomes of the meeting. Below is a diagram that outlines, in simple terms, what these would mean for countries’ pollution reduction commitments. Note that this does not include other critical elements of the Paris outcome such as how to build resilience to growing climate change impacts and how to support the world’s poorest nations participate in climate change solutions (‘climate finance’). While critical details remain to be resolved, the draft texts highlight that the contours of the Paris agreement are becoming increasingly clear. The inevitable trend to stronger action is embedded in the draft agreement with countries needing to progressively strengthen action through time. Before getting into the details of this figure, and what it means for Australia’s target, a few overall elements of the draft agreement are worth highlighting: Read More here