November 2006
Nairobi Climate Change Talks
Between the 6th and the 17th of November some 6,000 delegates from 180 countries attended the latest round of UN climate change negotiations held in Nairobi, Kenya.
The purpose of the talks was to shape the future of an international climate agreement, an issue which has been galvanised by the release of the Stern Report last month.
The 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 1991, and 2005 was the northern hemisphere’s hottest ever year. It is anticipated that there could be major economic, as well as environmental and social, consequences of inaction, and as a result the majority of nations appear to be acting with good intentions.
Greenpeace have lauded "the new boost in momentum and international resolve", which has enabled the participants to build upon the success and momentum gathered at last year’s Montreal conference. The organisation is content that a clear roadmap has now been put in place to guide negotiations leading up to next year’s conference in Indonesia.
However, many development and environmental agencies have remained critical of what they see as a lack of political will among nations. In particular, there is a widely held view that significant progress in international negotiations will only be made after 2009 when US President George Bush leaves office. His staunch refusal to listen to international pleas over climate change issues has contributed to a sense of inevitable futility since the US is the largest global energy consumer and, indeed, emitter of CO2. Any serious solution to climate change must involve the US.
Furthermore, the President is setting a bad example; an example which has unfortunately been followed by a number of other developed nations who have refused to cut emissions unless other developing nations do too. Nonetheless, in this respect it is encouraging that the so called ‘tropical-forest nations’ such as Brazil, Papua New Guinea, and Costa Rica have been putting forward innovative new ideas at the Nairobi conference. This has led Conference President Kivutha Kibwana to hail the "Spirit of Nairobi", which Annie Petsonk of Environmental Defense believes could encourage countries to "stand together" on combating climate change.
The major outcomes of the conference were:
- The nations reaffirmed their commitment to agreeing an extension of Kyoto, but failed to set a deadline as to when this would be done.
- Kofi Annan launched a plan to help poor nations win funds from a Kyoto mechanism for the promotion of clean energies.
- It has been agreed that UN agencies will advise nations on how to "climate proof" themselves
- An Adaptation Fund has been set up to help poor nations adapt to climate change. Funded by a levy on CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) projects, the fund is currently worth US$3m but may rise to US$700m by 2012.
- Details have been set for a 5 year plan to look at the effects of climate change and the vulnerability of the world in being able to adapt to ensuing natural disasters.
- A report on a credit mechanism to help nations preserve forests and slow deforestation in tropical nations is to be conducted next year. This currently accounts for about 20 per cent of emissions of greenhouse gases caused by human activities.
If you would like advice on how to save money on your energy and reduce your carbon output through greater efficiency and management contact Nersi Salehi on 01788 538150.
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