Volume 50 Issue 1 - January 2012 : Politics

When the 17^th Conference of Parties (COP 17) negotiations started in Durban last month, the main course in the menu was the second commitment to the Kyoto Protocol, while all the other issues could be likened to either starters or desserts. African countries plus smaller islands were looking forward to the talks agreeing on the second commitment to the Kyoto Protocol as it was the only available legally binding tool for the reduction of gases polluting the atmosphere.

The extension of the protocol to 2018 did happen, a step that cannot be hailed much as rich countries have in the past shunned compliance to the protocol. However, solace can be salvaged from the fact that rich and developing countries will formulate a legally binding agreement to be written by 2015 and effect after 2020. The deal has, however, not impressed many as some analysts say governments are delaying desperately needed action by giving themselves until 2015 to agree on a new deal that only effects in 2020.

The agreement was reached after developed countries complained that developing countries too should be called to account for their emissions, especially the so called advanced developing countries like China, India, South Africa and Brazil as their emissions are also high. The Durban conference also agreed on the Green Climate Fund, an annual fund of around P700 billion ($100billion) that will help developing and least-developed nations adapt to, and mitigate climate change.

Poor nations are most in need of finance to help pay for adapting to global warming and introducing low emission energy and industrial processes. Despite making headway on agreeing on the design of Green Climate Fund to channel up to P700 billion a year by 2020 to poorer nations, the global gathering has achieved little on establishing where the money will come from, which is still a stumbling block.

There was initially a proposal to generate cash from charging international shipping for the carbon emissions it generates, but the proposal faced opposition. Because of sovereign debt crisis, developed nations are also ill-placed to commit money beyond short-term financing that runs out at the end of 2012. However, as the curtain fell on Durban, African countries and their small islands counterparts can breathe a sigh of relief that the Kyoto Protocol was given another lease of life and will be hoping the 2015 agreement will see more commitment from the signatories.
 

Africa and the smaller islands are the most affected by climate change despite the fact that they are the least emitters of greenhouse gases. The second commitment of the protocol and the expected new deal however, has given these countries hope that the green climate fund should operate sooner rather than later as it holds the key to assisting them cope and adapt.

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