European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told reporters that a full-fledged international climate deal, along the lines of the Kyoto Agreement, won’t happen in Copenhagen.
The most he sees possible is the creation of a "framework" that includes clear commitments from all countries, developed and developing. Commitments would include timetables on reducing emissions in developed nations and commitments on what actions developing nations will take.
He said advanced nations need to put "numbers on the table" in terms of concrete emission cuts and funds to help developing countries.
50 African countries boycotted UN climate talks taking place in Barcelona until yesterday, when countries agreed to focus on commitments to actually reducing emissions. This is the final meeting before Copenhagen in early December.
About 70 other developing countries agreed that industrial nations’ commitments are too weak to put a serious dent in emissions, while developing nations are already feeling the impact of devastating droughts and floods.
Europe says it will cut emissions 30% by 2020 if the rest of the developed world does the same. At this point, the US is falling far behind – the weak legislation currently moving Congress, which barely has a chance of passing, would only cut emissions 4% from 1990 levels by 2020.
Africa says developed nations have yet to step up to the plate and commit to emission reductions that scientists agree are absolutely necessary- 40% below 1990 levels by 2020.
A study released this week shows that the glaciers on Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, are about 85% melted. The rest of the world’s glaciers are following suit.
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