Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 4 • Number 23 • 20th December 2004

CLIMATE CHANGE MEETING TAKES CAUTIOUS LOOK AT POST-KYOTO ERA

CLIMATE CHANGE MEETING TAKES CAUTIOUS LOOK AT POST-KYOTO ERA

On 18 December — a day behind schedule — climate change negotiators wrapped up two weeks of discussions by agreeing to engage in further talks on what might come after the Kyoto Protocol. The tenth Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) convened on a high note in Buenos Aires, Argentina, following the recent Russian ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and its imminent entry into force (see BRIDGES Trade BioRes, 19 November 2004). 2004 also marked the tenth anniversary of the UNFCCC, with the largest greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme in the world, in the EU, set to take off on 1 January 2005.

Despite all the positive momentum, the climate change conference in Buenos Aires quickly became bogged down in disagreement, with negotiators haggling over the turn of phrase on just how to move beyond the expiry of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012, and on how to treat oil exporting countries that might be adversely affected by climate change mitigation measures taking off around the world. The US and oil exporters such as Saudi Arabia provided fierce resistance to attempts to move the process ahead, and large developing countries with soaring emissions, such as India and China, were explicit about not yet wanting to take on any emissions reduction commitments.

Efforts beyond 2012

Early on in the meeting, Argentina’s lead negotiator Raul Estrada introduced the concept of "seminars" to discuss future actions under the UNFCCC. The concept raised expectations among countries ready to implement the Kyoto Protocol, who would like to see non-Kyoto countries like the US and major developing countries join the process at some stage. Non-party countries however sought to water down any decision language. The Kyoto Protocol itself requires that parties start negotiating post-2012 commitments by 2005.

A final compromise was hammered out late in the game, proposing that one seminar be held in June 2005 for exchanging information rather than to formally set negotiations on post-2012 commitments in motion. The seminar will promote "an informal exchange on actions relating to mitigation and adaptation to assist Parties to continue to develop effective and appropriate responses to climate change; and b) policies and measures adopted by their respective governments that support implementation of their existing commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol".

Commenting on the process and outcome, Jeff Fiedler of US-based Natural Resources Defense Council said, "This is a new low for the United States, not just to pull out, but to block other countries from moving ahead on their own path. It’s almost spiteful to say, ‘You can’t move ahead without us.’ If you’re not going to lead, then get out of the way."

Adaptation and response measures

Adaptation to climate change also featured high on the COP agenda. Already in advance of the meeting, the meeting had been termed the "adaptation COP", and countries were expecting concrete outcomes. These outcomes were partly blurred due to the insistence of oil exporting countries that possible adverse impacts on their economies of implementation measures in Kyoto Protocol countries should be compensated for on par with adaptation support for the most vulnerable countries, such as small island developing states.

The Buenos Aires Programme of Work on Adaptation and Response Measures adopted by the COP consists of four components focusing on the adverse impacts of climate change, the impact of the implementation of response measures, further multilateral activities in this area, and a work programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change. A number of workshops and papers will be prepared on these issues, as well as further scientific assessments of vulnerabilities and options for adaptation, and support for mainstreaming adaptation into sustainable development planning.

Certain issues were left unresolved at the COP, and will be addressed at the next set of technical meetings, to be held in Bonn in June 2005. These issues included "Good Practices" in policies and measures that countries take to address climate change, as well as issues related to the adverse effects of policies and measures under the Kyoto Protocol. These adverse impacts would mainly be felt by oil exporting countries, which blocked progress in this area.

The COP was attended by over 6000 participants, and featured numerous exhibits and 150 seminars on the sidelines. The next step in the climate process will be the annual meetings of the subsidiary (technical) bodies in June 2005.

Additional Resources

Daily coverage provided by IISD Linkages.

ICTSD reporting; "U.S. Waters Down Global Commitment to Curb Greenhouse Gases," NY TIMES, 19 December 2004; "Buenos Aires conference advances efforts to adapt to climate change and meet Kyoto targets," UNFCCC RELEASE, 18 December 2004; "Summary Of The Tenth Conference Of The Parties To The UN Framework Convention On Climate Change," ENB, 20 December 2004.