After an opening day full of ceremony and good will, representatives at the U.N. climate change conference in Bali, Indonesia began the difficult work yesterday of negotiating a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol, which will conclude in 2012.
The first step taken was to create a “special group” to evaluate plans for two years worth of negotiations aimed at drawing the United States and developing nations like China and India into the any future treaties aimed at combating global climate change.
Australia’s new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd signed papers for his country to join Kyoto earlier in the week, leaving the U.S. as the only industrialized nation outside the agreement. China and India, as developing nations, do not participate in the emissions cuts mandated by Kyoto, but with their rapidly expanding economies and skyrocketing emissions, their participation is key to reducing the buildup of greenhouse gases in atmosphere.
The issue surrounding China and India was the first to cause bickering at the 190-nation meeting, causing Yvo do Boer, head of the UN Climate Change Secretariat for the conference, to play peacemaker.
Canada and Japan were criticized for demanding too much of the developing nations, which claim that lifting their populations out of poverty is equally, if not more, important that reducing emissions.
“Canada and Japan are saying nothing about legally binding emission reductions for themselves after 2012,” said Steven Guilbeault of environmental group Equiterre. “They are trying to shift the burden to China and India.”
De Boer defended the negotiation process, stating that the nations were merely putting ideas on the table. “A marriage contract is not something to discuss on a first date,” he said. “No proposals have formally been made.”
In addition to the participation of the U.S., China and India the primary issues for the Bali meeting, which will conclude December 14, include the following.
Deforestation–More carbon is emitted each year by deforestation–particularly in developing nations like Brazil and Indonesia–than by all cars, boats, planes and trains world wide. Groups such as Reduced Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries (REDD) are calling for rich nations to pay poorer nations to preserve their forests.
Technology Transfers–China has been especially vocal, leading up to the conference on the issue of Intellectual Property Rights and the importance of transferring key clean energy technologies from developed nations to developing nations. The argument is that licensing rights for the technologies make the costs of producing clean energy too expensive for poorer nations.
Kyoto Disappointment–Greenhouse gas emissions have continued to rise, as Kyoto signatories have struggled to meet their emissions targets–an issue that is sure to be highlighted as deeper cuts are discussed.
Looking Beyond Industry–The Kyoto agreement focuses on limiting pollution from industrial sources. Proposals for the next phase of the treaty, or a new one, most likely will address other sources of pollution as well, specifically the global shipping and aviation sectors, which are of serious concern to member states of the European Union.
Carbon Storage–Even though the technology is still untested, and potentially hazardous, its likely that carbon storage ideas will surface at some point in the negotiation process. Researchers have suggested that rich nations could help cover the tremendous expense of capturing carbon and storing it deep underground in developing nations to help offset their own emissions.
On a final note, it was reported that environmentalists outside the conference gave mock swimming lessons, in reference to the risk of rising sea levels posed by global warming. The luxury Bali seaside resort where the conference is being held is at risk from rising oceans.
“Sink or swim,” the environmentalists reportedly said.
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