Why Africa should not support the Copenhagen accord
By Benard Namanya | The New Vision | 8th February, 2010
THE Copenhagen accord on climate change was neither adopted nor endorsed by the 15th conference of parties in Copenhagen, Denmark. This means the accord does not have any legal standing within the UN system.
Notwithstanding, the accord’s lack of legal standing, the UN and some developed countries have taken the view that the accord should be implemented by a coalition of the willing countries.
As a result, on January 18, the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC) wrote to all countries inviting those that wish to be associated with the accord to do so. The letter also invited developed countries to submit their emission targets for 2020 and developing countries to submit their mitigation actions.
This latest move from the UNFCCC indicates that future climate change negotiations are likely to revolve around the accord. This, therefore, calls for further review of the accord for a better understanding.
Whether or not African countries should associate themselves with the Copenhagen accord is an issue that needs urgent resolution. For Africa, one of the most important issues is that developed countries must undertake emission reductions that science demands, to avoid dangerous climate change.
Fortunately, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has already resolved this scientific question of the required level of emission reductions. In its fourth assessment report (2007), the IPCC concluded that in order keep global temperature within safe limits, developed countries must cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80–95% below 1990 levels by 2050.
What does the accord say about this important issue? It does not set out emissions targets, but has made provision for developed countries to submit emissions targets for 2020, which will then be annexed to the accord. The anticipated submissions of developed countries on emission targets should be carefully examined. African countries should demand that when developed countries complete their submissions, a technical assessment must be made to determine whether they are consistent with what science demands.
Should African countries associate with the Copenhagen accord in its current form as has been requested by the UNFCCC? As can clearly be seen from the above, the accord is an incomplete agreement that lacks fundamental provisions.
African countries should not associate with it until developed countries have put on the table emission targets that are consistent with what science demands.
Without emission reductions by developed countries, severe climate change impacts will continue to hit poor continents such as Africa and adaptation alone will not be the answer.
Some have argued that since the accord has an offer of $30b for the period 2010-2012 for climate change activities in developing countries, African countries should quickly embrace it to get a piece of the cake.
However, I disagree with this argument, not because I do not appreciate the financial needs of African countries, but because climate change aid without the corresponding emission reductions in developed countries, is simply not the correct approach to addressing the problem.
African countries must also bear in mind that the accord is vague on the source of this financing and developed countries have not made any financial commitments. Ultimately, the promise of financing from developed countries, that has been a source of attraction, might not materialise.
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