A general view shows the opening ceremony of the 18th United Nations
(UN) climate change conference in Doha on November 26, 2012. Nearly 200
world nations launched a new round of talks in Doha to review
commitments to cutting climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions.
AFP
A new round of climate change talks are taking place in Doha,
Qatar with governments being urged to speed up global action towards a
low-emission future.
The governments have been specifically asked to
focus on essential tasks ahead, deliver agreed outcomes and take further
steps in the global response to the climate change problem.
United Nation's climate change official Christiana
Figueres pointed delegates to key reports, which all point to the
urgency to act to keep global average temperatures from rising beyond an
internationally agreed level of 2 degrees Celsius, beyond which climate
impacts become extremely serious.
According to analysis by the World Bank, the world
remains firmly at risk of seeing temperatures rise towards 4 degrees
Celsius by the end of the century, creating devastating effects, if
current levels of ambition to curb greenhouse gas emissions are not
raised.
The World Meteorological Organisation says
greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere have reached yet another
record high at 390.9 parts per million, with no identified change in
the upward
trend.
Widening gap
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) on the other
hand warns that the gap between what is needed in terms of emission
reductions to stay below 2 degrees Celsius and what is so far promised
by countries is still widening, not decreasing.
However, all reports underline that the
technology, the funding and the policy options to remain below the 2
degrees Celsius goal are already available, provided that governments
and societies take the necessary action rapidly enough.
“Expert analysis consistently says that we do have
the possibility to keep on track and that to act now is safer and much
less costly than to delay. In the last three years, policy and action
towards a sustainable, clean energy future has been growing faster than
ever,” said Ms Figueres.
“But the door is closing fast because the pace and
scale of action is simply not yet enough. So Doha must deliver its part
in the longer-term solution.”
Added Ms Figueres; “Governments have said they
intend to work hard to advance their decision before the high-level
segment, so they can hand over a very limited set of options to
ministers and close successfully at the end of next week.”
Timetable
The newly elected President of the Conference of
the Parties, Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, Chairman of Qatar’s
Administrative Control and Transparency Authority, urged the conference
to stick to agreed timetables and speedily implement already agreed
decisions.
“Climate change is a common challenge for
humanity. We must work in earnest for a better future for present and
for future generations. We have a precious opportunity over the coming
days, and we must make full use of it. Many delegates have stressed the
importance of finalising work on time, and that requires that we all
show flexibility,” he said.
In Doha, governments are expected to usher in a
renewed commitment under the Kyoto Protocol, move the broad
infrastructure of support they have been building for action in the
developing world into firm implementation, and decide how to resolve
policy issues that remain outstanding under the UN Climate Change
Convention.
They will also decide how to stick to the task and
timetable they set themselves to reach an effective, fair and ambitious
universal climate agreement that is to be adopted in 2015 and to enter
into force from 2020, and to raise the current inadequate global
ambition to address climate change and its impacts before 2020.
In addition, countries meeting in Doha need to
reach a better understanding on how to mobilise long-term finance to
support action in developing nations, which they have agreed must reach a
level of USD 100 billion a year by 2020.
Gadiola Emanuel
“A faster response to climate change is necessary and possible,
both in terms of the international policy response and increasing action
at national and sub-national policy level and from global business.
Doha must make sure the response is accelerated,” said Ms Figueres.
Also to be showcased at the talks by the UN
climate change secretariat are “lighthouse activities” public-private
climate initiatives in developing countries which have already improved
the lives of the urban poor, and which can inspire governments and
businesses to do more.
Two further pillars of the secretariat’s Momentum
for Change Initiative will also be launched – one highlighting the role
of women in providing solutions to climate change, and the other drawing
attention to innovative approaches to climate finance.
The first week of the meeting will pave way for the high level segment where more than 100 ministers are scheduled to attend.
The segment, to be opened by UN Secretary General
Ban Ki-Moon, begins on December 4 and ends with a decision-making
plenary three days later.
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