Delegates urge climate “mandate”

Delegates debated into the night Friday during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa. They’re being asked to consider a proposal for a new environmental protocol to take effect by 2015.

MIKE DE SOUZA
Postmedia New

Pressure from the European Union and the planet’s least-developed nations has forced summit delegates to consider an urgent “mandate” toward a new legally binding “protocol” by 2015 to stop dangerous human interference with the atmosphere.

The new proposal was released late Friday, extending the talks by an extra day as the Europe-led group urged the world to show more “ambition” in tackling the heat-trapping pollution responsible for changing the climate.

Although Canadian Environment Minister Peter Kent said he was comfortable with earlier calls for a “framework” to replace the legally binding Kyoto Protocol, most countries wanted the conference to conclude with a stronger “mandate” to achieve a new legal regime that would be more comprehensive than its predecessor.

“Climate change represents an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet and thus requires to be urgently addressed by all Parties,” said the proposed text, to be considered today.

“And acknowledging that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate international response, with a view to accelerate the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions.”

Kent, who has been slammed repeatedly at the conference for taking an anti-Kyoto Protocol stance, found himself again on the receiving end of criticism after he spoke about Canada’s policies during a closed-door session, and pointed the finger at the rising environmental footprint of emerging economies.

“You’re leaving and you’re not even saying goodbye,” said Indian Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan, making reference to Kent’s refusal to comment on rumours the Canadian government will formally withdraw from Kyoto after the conference concludes.

Kent declined to comment on the remarks.

Canada, Japan, and Russia have all said they won’t accept a second round of targets under Kyoto following the end of its current 2008 to 2012 commitment period.

The new proposal at the summit noted “with grave concern” that there was a “gap” between existing voluntary commitments made by countries and what would be required to prevent warming of more than 1.5 or 2 C, considered to be dangerous tipping points.

It also suggested achieving a “protocol or another legal instrument” as soon as possible, but no later than 2015.

While the previous proposal, rejected by the summit on Friday, suggested the new regime come into force after 2020, the new draft did not set a date but suggested its “ambition” be guided by a coming international assessment of the latest scientific literature on climate change.

“We need not to remind anyone of the scale of climatic threats facing the most vulnerable countries in the world as a result of climate change,” the Europe-led group said in a joint statement.

“The facts are clear and we are still too far from where we need to be to secure the most vulnerable countries’ right to sustainable development.”