Beijing (China Daily/ANN) - As
the last United Nations conference on climate change before the expiry of the
Kyoto Protocol in 2012, the ongoing conference in Durban, South Africa, bears
people's hopes that all world members will uphold their responsibilities for
reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
However, a new global economic
recession since the onset of this year, the high unemployment rate in the
United States, the increased risk of the collapse of the euro amid the
deteriorating debt crisis in some eurozone countries and political unrest
across the world, have cast a long shadow over the prospects of the Durban
meeting.
The key to success at the
Durban conference lies in whether or not participating countries can reach an
agreement on a second commitment period of the outgoing Kyoto Protocol. This
will lay the groundwork for any international talks on climate change.
Otherwise, any meaningful action on emissions reduction will be out of the
question. Failing to agree a second commitment period will be the equivalent of
discarding the Kyoto Protocol and will produce significant adverse long-term
effects on any international talks on climate change.
So far, a majority of Annex 1
countries - mainly industrialized countries - have failed to fully fulfill
their emission reduction commitments as demanded by the first commitment period
of the protocol. In this context, the failure to reach a deal on the second
commitment period will result in the absence of a legally binding document that
commits all parties to continue to fulfill their unfinished commitments in the
years ahead.
The Durban conference should
also try to take substantial steps towards guaranteeing funds to help
impoverished countries deal with climate change, transform their economic
growth modes and embark on a low-carbon and green development path.
Developing countries have
stressed many times that they need a growing amount of funds every year to
press ahead with these. Developed countries should also make some institutional
arrangements to help small and impoverished nations which lack enough
political, economic and systematic capacity, to follow a low-carbon and green
development path.
In recent years, developed
countries have raised their calls for developing countries to undertake a
bigger role in the reduction of global GHG emissions. Data shows that in 1990,
industrialized nations accounted for more than 70 percent of the globe's GHG
emissions, but their proportion had declined to 50 percent by 2010. The
developing countries' proportion of global GHG emissions is expected to
increase to 70 percent somewhere between 2040 and 2050. However, the increased
proportion of emissions by developing countries will not change the fact that
their per capita emission volume is still far below that of their developed
counterparts.
So far, major developing
countries such as China, India, Brazil and South Africa have formulated their
own programs for further emission reductions, in sharp contrast with some
developed countries' defiance of basic international norms on climate change
and their stubborn calls for less-developed countries to undertake bigger
international responsibilities incommensurate to their development status.
It is developing countries'
stance that all countries should comply with the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change and use this legally binding document to regulate their activities under
the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities".
Given that there is not much
time left for participating countries to discuss and resolve all the thorny issues
involved, people should not have too high expectations of the Durban
conference. A variety of uncertainties suggest that there is not much
possibility of a legally binding treaty being reached that will commit
developed countries to undertaking more responsibilities for GHG emissions
reduction. The probability is that a non-legally binding document will be
signed at the Durban conference, just like the one agreed at the Copenhagen
Conference, while leaving all the key issues pending to the next meeting.
Yang Fuqiang in Beijing/China
Daily | ANN
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Consulting, Investment and Management, focusing three main economic sectors: International PR; Healthcare & Wellness;and Tourism & Hospitality. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programs. Sign up with twitter to get news updates with @SaigonBusinessC. Thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment