“Copenhagen Accord.”

Dear Members,

 

Please find below highlights of the final days of the Copenhagen Summit and summary of the Copenhagen Accord adopted at the end of the Summit. To read in detail please visit Earth Negotiations Bulletin, a flagship product of International Institute for Sustainable Development – Reporting Services at http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop15/. Hope you find it useful.  

 

Highlights

 

The UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, took place from 7-19 December 2009, and included the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the UNFCCC and the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP 5).

 

At the close of the meeting, parties adopted “Copenhagen Accord.” Parties agreed to establish a procedure whereby countries supporting the Copenhagen Accord can accede to it. All in all, close to 115 heads of state attend COP15.

 

What does Accord propose?

·       Stabilizing global GHG concentration to limit temperature rise to 2 ⁰C.

·       Deep cuts in the GHG emissions on the basis of equity and in the context of sustainable development.

·       Achieving peaking of global and national emissions as soon as possible recognizing that the time frame for peaking will be longer in developing countries.

·       Enhanced action on adaptation with special focus on small island states, Africa and least developed countries (LDCs)

·       Annex 1 parties to implement economy-wide emission targets for 2020.

·       Delivery of reductions and financing will be subject to measuring, reporting and verification

·       Non Annex-I countries will implement mitigation actions; to be communicated through National Communications every two years

·       Supported nationally appropriate mitigation actions will be subject to international verification.

·       Action by small island states and LDCs to be voluntary and support-based.

·       Developing countries with low emitting economies to be provided incentives to continue to develop on a low emission pathway.

·       Scaled-up, new and additional, predictable funding and improved access to the funding for developing countries with specific focus on mitigation, adaptation, technology transfer, capacity building and REDD.

·       Establishing a Technology Mechanism to accelerate technology development and transfer.

·       Assess implementation of this Accord by 2015

 

To read the full Accord please visit http://en.cop15.dk/files/pdf/copenhagen_accord.pdf [PDF; Size 183 KB]

 

Countries have up to 1 February 2010 to put down their commitments into annexes of Copenhagen Accord

 

COP 15 and COP/MOP 5 were held in conjunction the tenth session of the Ad Hoc Working Group (AWG) on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP 10) and the eighth session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA 8).

 

AWGs are entrusted with the job of developing text for the agreement. The “Copenhagen Accord,” however was not based on the texts developed by either of the AWGs. The Accord was a political statement drafted by the United States with China, India, Brazil and South African –and subsequently acceded to by 26 Heads of State and their representatives.

 

While many recognized the historical significance of the Conference, most delegates left Copenhagen disappointed at the “weak agreement,” questioning its practical implications given that the Copenhagen Accord had not been formally adopted as the outcome of the negotiations.

 

 

Regards,

 

Ramesh Kumar Jalan and  Kirtiman Awasthi

Resource Team

Climate Change Community, Solution Exchange,

United Nations Development Programme

55, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi-110003, India

Tel: +91-11-46532383 Fax: +91-11-24627612

www.solutionexchange-un.net.in