Alternatives put on table to break pre-2020 impasse at COP23
, TNN|
Nov 13, 2017, 10.13 PM IST
BONN, Germany: Negotiators have so far failed to break the ice on the issue of pre-2020 impasse here during the ongoing UN climate change conference. Though an alternative has been put forward to make some progress, the developing countries on Monday refused to go for it and insisted to include pre-2020 issues in the agenda of COP23.
It is learnt that the Morocco's foreign minister, Salaheddine Mezouar, who convened informal consultations among countries on the issue for two consecutive days last week, suggested that the countries could alternatively consider including pre-2020 as part of the facilitative dialogue in 2018.
Besides, it was also suggested that the countries may consider an annual high level dialogue to take stock of collective progress on pre-2020 implementation from 2018-2020 and opt for an online submission of their pre-2020 actions.
Sources said that the consultations on the alternative was still going on and it appeared that the developing countries could agree to it, provided the developed countries accepted for a definite timeline to ratify an existing amendment on second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (KP-II) during its 20th anniversary year.
The Protocol, which was adopted in 1997, refer to existing obligations of rich nations to take mitigation (emission cut) actions. Though the developed countries had in Doha in 2012 amended it and agreed to undertake their aggregate emission cuts by at least 18% below the 1990 levels, most of them, including the EU, have, so far, not even ratified the decision. Its ratification is important for global climate action for the years leading up to 2020. So far, only 84 of the total 191 signatories have ratified it. The number is not adequate to make the commitment operational.
Developing countries, including India and China, had last week demanded inclusion of the pre-2020 issue in the agenda of the COP23. But, the developed countries continued to oppose it on Monday saying the matter can be discussed at some other forum.
It is expected that the the Moroccan foreign minister Mezouar, who was the COP22 president, would try to reach at a consensus over the issue on behalf of the Fijian presidency of the COP23 before beginning of the high-level segment on Wednesday. If the matter is not resolved, it may create some unease during the high-level segment which will be attended by heads of State and government and other dignitaries. India's environment minister Harsh Vardhan will represent the country during the high-level segment.
It is learnt that the Morocco's foreign minister, Salaheddine Mezouar, who convened informal consultations among countries on the issue for two consecutive days last week, suggested that the countries could alternatively consider including pre-2020 as part of the facilitative dialogue in 2018.
Besides, it was also suggested that the countries may consider an annual high level dialogue to take stock of collective progress on pre-2020 implementation from 2018-2020 and opt for an online submission of their pre-2020 actions.
Sources said that the consultations on the alternative was still going on and it appeared that the developing countries could agree to it, provided the developed countries accepted for a definite timeline to ratify an existing amendment on second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (KP-II) during its 20th anniversary year.
The Protocol, which was adopted in 1997, refer to existing obligations of rich nations to take mitigation (emission cut) actions. Though the developed countries had in Doha in 2012 amended it and agreed to undertake their aggregate emission cuts by at least 18% below the 1990 levels, most of them, including the EU, have, so far, not even ratified the decision. Its ratification is important for global climate action for the years leading up to 2020. So far, only 84 of the total 191 signatories have ratified it. The number is not adequate to make the commitment operational.
Developing countries, including India and China, had last week demanded inclusion of the pre-2020 issue in the agenda of the COP23. But, the developed countries continued to oppose it on Monday saying the matter can be discussed at some other forum.
It is expected that the the Moroccan foreign minister Mezouar, who was the COP22 president, would try to reach at a consensus over the issue on behalf of the Fijian presidency of the COP23 before beginning of the high-level segment on Wednesday. If the matter is not resolved, it may create some unease during the high-level segment which will be attended by heads of State and government and other dignitaries. India's environment minister Harsh Vardhan will represent the country during the high-level segment.
(This article was originally published in The Times of India)
