Global warming: Bonn talks focus on developing climate treaty and finding ... - Summit County Citizens Voice

Is it getting warmer?

Delegates targeting 2015 for legally binding, enforceable climate deal

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY â€" Trying to follow the latest round of climate talks in Bonn, Germany is a reporter’s nightmare, with every press release filled with incredible amounts of bureaucratic jargon or technical information so dense that it’s almost impossible to follow â€" even for someone well-versed in climate science and policy.

In a way it’s a good thing. The time for grandiose speeches is long past; now’s the time for nitty gritty details. There’s no other way to ensure some sort of meaningful reduction in greenhouse gases.

But if the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change wants to connect with average citizens, it’s going to have to do a much better job of translating some of the information into plain talk to give people an idea of what’s at stake in meetings like the current conference in Bonn.

Luckily, the big picture and the ultimate goal aren’t that complicated. Basically, most of the world has agreed that it’s necessary to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius to prevent irreversible and potentially catastrophic impacts.

The main way to do that is to reduce emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. For now, the countries participating in the UN climate process have agreed to cuts that should limit warming to somewhere between 2.5 and 5 degrees Celsius, so additional steps are needed.

Near the top of the Bonn agenda was continuing development of a legally binding international climate treaty that would commit signatories to emission cuts. Along with that, the international community has to agree on a way to monitor and enforce the cuts. The goal is to complete the treaty language by 2015 and get it signed by 2020.

“We have all the means at our disposal to close the gap, and the long-term objectives of governments remain attainable,” said Christiana Figueres, UNFCCC Executive Secretary. “But this depends on stronger emissions reduction efforts, led by industrialized countries, and a sufficient level of ambition to support developing country action. Concrete and transparent implementation, today, tomorrow and into the foreseeable future, is the answer,” she said.

Global warming deniers and reactionary conservatives like to describe the international effort as a way to create one-world, social-totalitarian government, but don’t be distracted by those irrational voices â€" it’s far from anything like that.

Instead, it’s a painstaking and sometimes painful path of collaboration, compromise and equity, as countries with incredible wealth try to balance their interests with countries that have almost nothing.

Another key piece of the Bonn conference is trying to figure out ways to help  developing countries adapt to the inevitable effects of climate change. The delegates had hoped to make quick progress in this area because 2012 marks the end of the $30 billion of fast-start finance and no-one wants to see a gap in support, according to Ms. Figueres.

But instead, the first meeting of the Green Climate Fund board was postponed, as countries jockey for position on the board.

“The next window to meet will be the last week in June or first week in July, in Geneva,” said Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC. “There is great enthusiasm from countries to be represented on the Board. While I would have liked to see the Board get down to work immediately, a short postponement to reach full agreement on its membership means it can launch smoothly and push ahead with the tasks before it,” she said. “To ensure that happens, I ask governments to submit their pending nominations without further delay so the pressing work of the Board can begin,” she added.

Delegates in Bonn will also discuss how to technologically empower developing countries to build their own sustainable energy futures and how to ramp up funding support for developing nations to $100 billion per year by 2020.

“Progress here in Bonn can give countries the confidence they need to push ahead with national climate policies,’ said Ms. Figueres. “In turn, many countries are beginning to adopt ambitious climate change legislation, which is sending good signals to the international negotiations. All of this can give society and business confidence to act faster themselves,” she said.

Follow UNFCCC on Twitter: @UN_ClimateTalks

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres on Twitter: @CFigueres

UNFCCC on Facebook: facebook.com/UNclimatechange

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Filed under: climate and weather, global warming, world news Tagged: | Bonn climate talks, climate, global warming, international climate treaty, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change