Delegates negotiate revised draft of climate change deal at UN talks
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GOVERNMENTS have begun negotiating on an updated draft of a global climate change deal that was released yesterday morning at the latest round of United Nations talks in Bonn, amid relief new additions had not seen the text balloon.
Developing countries on Monday voiced anger at the start of the talks in the German city that a slimmed-down 20-page version of the text, created by the chairs of the negotiations, did not include key proposals on issues like helping people deal with the impact of climate change and financing their protection.
In response, all countries were permitted to insert “must-have items.”
The resulting new text, issued overnight, is 34 pages long, and was described by climate experts as “manageable.”
“Fears (it) would expand out of control were laid to rest,” said Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko, South Africa’s delegate, who speaks on behalf of a key group of more than 130 developing nations.
Daniel Reifsnyder, co-chair of the talks, said the new text was a “starting point of the negotiation” aimed at producing a binding agreement to curb global warming.
That deal is due to be finalized by more than 190 nations at a UN conference in Paris starting on November 30. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told negotiators in Bonn there was a need for confidence, transparency and a sense of urgency at the talks this week to ensure success in Paris.
“I am sure that a series of improvements will be brought to ensure the text is balanced and ambitious,” and can be used as a starting point for the summit, he said.
He added that he hopes the Bonn discussions will settle some important issues and identify some key political questions remaining open.
Peter Betts, lead negotiator for the European Union, said the new draft was a “useful tool,” but there was still a long way to go before all countries agreed which essential elements should be part of the deal.
Seven smaller groups are now setting to work in Bonn on discussing different sections of the draft agreement covering emissions reductions, climate finance, and adapting to extreme weather and rising seas, among other issues.
Some countries said they would use those sessions to try to reintroduce certain proposals, as they were unhappy not all their suggestions yesterday had been included.
Civil society groups were furious that they will not be allowed to attend the sub-group meetings — a stance backed by Japan and the co-chairs, and opposed by Malaysia and others.
In general, however, the mood in Bonn was that the new text now reflected a broader range of views from both developed and developing countries.
Mohamed Adow, senior climate change adviser with development charity Christian Aid, said a delicate balance had been struck in crafting a fair premise for negotiations, opening the way to defining clear options for ministers to grapple with in Paris.
He welcomed the reintroduction of a developing-world proposal on dealing with the losses and damage caused by unavoidable climate impacts, another linking adaptation needs with the level of temperature rises, and a long-term goal to decarbonize the global economy over the course of this century.
“Given the drama yesterday ... I am pleased to say we’re far ahead into the process in terms of actually having a solid draft text that will be the basis for negotiation,” Adow said.
Reifsnyder said a further revised version of the draft deal would be produced at the end of Friday, when the Bonn talks close.
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