Climate justice: What next after Copenhagen?
After days of false starts and leaked texts, weeks of tense and often bewildering negotiations and decades of work, the Copenhagen talks ended with a last-minute text from outside the formal negotiating process. What was the Climate Justice campaign calling for, what did we get and what really happened?
We asked for… A legally binding climate change deal.
We got… A weak, non-binding accord developed behind closed doors.
What happened… On Friday evening, a nervous and defensive Obama announced that he had drafted an accord after consulting with China, South Africa, India and Brazil. Campaigners chanting ‘shame on you Obama’ called on the EU and the G77 not to sign. In all-night talks Tuvalu, Sudan, Bolivia, Venezuela and Cuba criticised the undemocratic process and made impassioned pleas against the new text.
At 2.26pm on Saturday the negotiations finally ended when, despite lack of agreement from many countries, the conference agreed to “take note of the Copenhagen Accord ”, alongside the results of the previous two weeks of negotiations.
We asked for… Emissions cuts of more than 40 per cent on 1990 levels by 2020.
We got… No new commitments.
What happened… In the accord, there were no commitments on emissions cuts. This root cause of climate change was relegated to an appendix, which hasn’t even been written yet. The previous two weeks’ negotiations also brought no new commitments, only the recycling of old promises.
There were rumours that the EU would move from a 20 per cent to 30 per cent reduction target for its own emissions. But despite Gordon Brown’s leadership on the issue, the announcement never came. Based on the level of cuts promised so far, a leaked UN report estimates we are on track for global temperature rises of around 3˚C. But loopholes in the text mean actual emissions could be much higher.
We asked for… $195 billion each year by 2020 on top of existing aid pledges to help poor countries cope with climate change.
We got… Some progress, but not enough.
What happened… The accord stated that developed countries would ‘set a goal of mobilising jointly $100bn a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries’. The US also pledged support for a $100bn fund for adaptation. But this still does not meet the scale of the challenge, is not additional to existing aid and questions remain around how the money will be controlled.
We asked for… Your help in calling for climate justice.
We got… A global movement with momentum and energy to carry on the campaign in 2010.
What happened… Developing countries stood up and demanded to be heard, often to rapturous applause. Although the UN process is slow and difficult, it provides the only global forum which ensures the poorest are represented.
Before Copenhagen the negotiating text ran to almost 200 pages, this has now been whittled down to less than ten, giving a solid basis for moving forward. The accord has not replaced these texts, despite moves from the US and others to make that happen. Public pressure meant that over 100 heads of state attended the negotiations, unheard of before, showing how seriously the world’s leaders are taking the issue.
Before the talks began, 50,000 marched for climate justice at the Wave in London, followed by 100,000 the following Saturday in Copenhagen. World leaders know we are watching and are not going away.
Huge numbers of people joined together to call for a fair deal, including 55,000 CAFOD supporters. Your messages were added to the half a million pledges handed in to the United Nations by Desmond Tutu in Copenhagen. The 'Our climate is in our hands' action cards are still being used and collected in parishes to keep up the pressure in the weeks after the Copenhagen talks. Action cards can be ordered here >>
What now?
The negotiations have failed to produce a clear timetable for action and decision making in 2010. But we can act now to push for emissions cuts within the EU. We got so close in Copenhagen. This is vital to prevent climate change worsening and to rebuild trust with developing counties by showing them that we will take a lead. Gordon Brown is listening and has already championed the call for higher EU emissions targets. We must act now.
