Agreement has been reached at the climate change talks in Cancun. Countries have agreed to establish a Green Climate Fund for developing countries and thrown a lifeline for a more comprehensive deal to be reached next year in South Africa.
'Copenhagen derailed the world's effort to solve the climate crisis but here in Cancun, negotiators have just about heaved it back on track,' said Mohamed Adow, Senior Adviser on Global Advocacy at Christian Aid.
However, it leaves the future of the Kyoto protocol still hanging in the balance and countries need to go much further if the world´s poorest people are to be protected against climate change.
Kyoto is the only international treaty that exists to ensure rich countries – those most responsible for causing climate change - cut their carbon emissions in line with what the science demands.
Dispute between countries on the its future has been the abiding theme of the conference after Japan announced they would not be signing up to a second commitment period after 2012. This caused wide spread condemnation here in Mexico and across the world.
A compromise was finally reached to continue discussions but the future of the Kyoto protocol remains in jeopardy.
Although countries recognise that emission pledges are not sufficient, another concern is that the Cancun conclusion is silent on how far global emissions must be reduced to keep the temperature rise within safe levels.
Although there has been agreement to establish a Green Climate Fund for developing countries, there are no details on where this money will come from and there is also concern about the role the World Bank might play because of its poor record of protecting people and the environment.
This is not the fair, ambitious and binding deal the world needs but agreement here sends a strong signal that the world is ready to move forward and is a stepping stone to a deal. It is now left for leaders to find the political will to ensure significant progress is made in the coming year.
Comments