core sector communique

Dear Members,

 

Please find below Copenhagen Summit highlights from Tuesday, 15 December 2009. 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/.  

 

Highlights

·       Tuesday, 15 December was considered the most hectic day so far. The atmosphere in the negotiations was sometimes described as tense and delegates appeared frustrated because of persisting fundamental differences among countries. On a long-term emission reduction goal, consultations reportedly centred on issues such as the level of limiting global average temperature increase, whether 1.5 or 2°C.

 

·       15 December was also the second anniversary of the adoption of the Bali Action Plan. Parties called for prompt implementation of action on mitigation, adaptation, technology cooperation, finance, REDD and capacity building.

 

·       Denmark called on world leaders to translate the current political momentum into “a decisive moment of change.” Danish Prime Minister invited all world leaders to adopt a deal that will affect all aspects of society and includes decisions under both tracks.

 

·       UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for a fair, ambitious and comprehensive agreement. He stressed financing as a key, welcoming the emerging consensus among developed countries to provide approximately US$10 billion annually for the next three years to the Copenhagen Launch Fund.

 

·       Highlighting the potential for failure if parties keep repeating positions and slowing progress with formalities, CoP President identified “compromise” as the key word for the coming days.

 

Ad-hoc Working Group- Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA)

·       Urgency was seen as Ad-hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action convened its closing plenary at 4:45 am on Wednesday. AWG-LCA’s work is envisaged as “package” and was being presented as a “core COP decision” and series of thematic decisions.

 

Ad-hoc Working Group- Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP)

·       The AWG-KP plenary took stock of progress achieved so far. Chair Ashe explained that after the plenary, he would convene a contact group to consider the AWG-KP’s report to the COP/MOP. There has been discussion on Annex I emission reductions, commitment periods, environmental integrity of Annex I parties’ pledges, National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, new greenhouse gases etc.

 

·       On the Contact Group on potential consequences, there have been three remaining areas of disagreement: defining countries for whom potential consequences will be most severe; guidelines for reporting; and establishing a permanent forum, using the Compliance Committee and/or national communications to address potential consequences. India noted that the text is in “no shape” to go before the Ministers.

 

Adaptation Fund Board (COP/MOP)

·       In the Contact Group on the Adaptation Fund Board, the Co-Chairs introduced draft decision text and proposed language on encouraging Annex I countries to increase their contributions to the Adaptation Fund. Parties agreed to forward the draft decision text to the COP/MOP. 

 

 

Regards,

 

Ramesh Kumar Jalan, Ph.D.

Resource Person & Moderator

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