Environment News

Key points from the 'Copenhagen Accord' agreement

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 21 December, 2009 : - - Copenhagen- After two weeks of negotiations among representatives of 193 nations, President Obama arrived at the talks in the final hours and hammered out a deal with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. The two men represent the world's leading emitters of carbon dioxide pollution from industrial smokestacks and automobile tailpipes.

The USA reached a climate agreement with India, South Africa, China and Brazil. 

Here are key points from the agreement, which is titled "Copenhagen Accord."

* LONG-TERM GOALS

"Deep cuts in global emissions are required according to science...with a view to reduce global emissions so as to hold the increase in global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius."

* LEGALLY BINDING DEAL

A proposal attached to the accord calls for a legally binding treaty to be pinned down by the end of next year.

* FINANCING FOR POOR NATIONS

The text says: "Developed countries shall provide adequate, predictable and sustainable financial resources, technology and capacity-building to support the implementation of adaptation action in developing countries."

It mentions as particularly vulnerable and in need of help are the least developed countries, small island developing states and countries in Africa.

"Developed countries set a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries. The funds will come from a wide variety of sources, public and private, bilateral and multilateral."

An annex carries the following short-term financing pledges from developed countries for 2010-2012:

EU - $10.6 billion
Japan - $11 billion
United States - $3.6 billion

* EMISSIONS REDUCTION:

Details of mitigation plans are included in two separate annexes, one for developed country targets and one for the voluntary pledges of major developing countries.

These are not binding, and describe the current status of pledges -- ranging from "under consideration" for the United States to "Adopted by legislation" for the European Union.

* VERIFICATION

A sticking point for a deal, largely because China refused to accept international controls, the section on monitoring of developing nation pledges is one of the longest in the accord.

It says emerging economies must monitor their efforts and report the results to the United Nations every two years, with some international checks to meet Western transparency concerns but "to ensure that national sovereignty is respected."

* FOREST PROTECTION

The accord "recognizes the importance of reducing emission from deforestation and forest degradation and the need to enhance removals or greenhouse gas emission by forests," and agrees to provide "positive incentives" to fund such action with financial resources from the developed world.

* CARBON MARKETS

Mentioned, but not in detail. The accord says: "We decide to pursue various approaches, including opportunities to use markets to enhance the cost-effectiveness of and to promote mitigations actions."

More information at the Official Website

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Environment - Surfersvillage