Why We Did Not Make More Progress at COP 18: A Short History of Climate Change Negotiations (Video)

This amusing, albeit grotesquely simplified summary of the history of climate change negotiations illustrates why a binding agreement on climate change has proven so illusive.

COP 18: Bridging the Gulf Between Science and Reality

In theory the slew of recent climate studies should inspire the delegates that have assembled for the 18th Conference of the Parties (COP 18). In practice the 194 nations that are meeting in Doha, Qatar, are getting bogged down by the same old arguments.

A Short History of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP)

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC) is an international environmental treaty negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The UNFCCC was opened for signature on May 9, 1992, after an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee produced the text of the Framework Convention as a report following its meeting in New York from April 30 to May 9, 1992. It entered into force on March 21, 1994. As of December 2012, UNFCCC has 194 parties.

Yvo de Boer's Comments and Predictions Post COP 17

Ex U.N. climate chief Yvo de Boer had some very positive things to say about last year's climate talks. As we are getting into the final stretch of COP 18 it is interesting to look back on COP 17 in Durban. On January 6, 2012, Environmental Leader published an article detailing de Boer's views.

The former executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change said that Durban sent a strong message to business that the world’s governments are serious about tackling climate change. He said that the Durban climate talks indicate that it is time for businesses to start preparing for a low-carbon economy. He also said that market-based mechanisms such as carbon trading will continue and he further expected that there will be clear reporting guidelines on GHG emissions.

COP 18: WBCSD on Establishing a Global Carbon Market

Recently the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) resurfaced work that it undertook back at the start of the Long-term Cooperative Action (LCA). The discussion on LCA includes a broad range of issues including the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA), the New Market Mechanism (NMM) and more recently, the Framework for Various Approaches (FVA).

The WBCSD has published a paper entitled “Establishing a Global Carbon Market,” it looks at how the substance of the Kyoto Protocol carbon market can be applied much more broadly to an evolving world of various approaches.

COP 18: The History of Carbon and Respective Responsibilities

There are massive disparities between the developed and developing world that compound the issue of emissions reduction at COP 18 and beyond. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution CO2 has increased about 41 percent. Research from climate scientists indicates that we need to act now to reduce emissions. The temperature of the planet has already increased about 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1850 and our current trajectory will warm the planet well beyond safe upper limits. However, if we are to make progress on global emissions reductions we will need to address the respective responsibilities of the developed and developing world.

Figueres on COP 18: We Need Domestic Legislation

Before we get an international consensus on a binding treaty under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change we will need to see domestic legislation. Almost 200 Nations have convened for COP 18, but on its own these efforts are inadequate. Those assembled in Doha, Qatar will not deliver the immediate results we need. The modest agenda this year means that no new emissions targets will be set and little progress is expected on a protocol that is supposed to be concluded in 2015 and take effect in 2020. The rate at which emissions are growing means we cannot wait for 2020. A number of studies indicate that are nearing tipping points from which we will not be able to recover.

Doha Progress Update by Christiana Figueres on 30 November 2012 (Video)

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres briefs the press on progress in the negotiations at the Doha Climate Change Conference.

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