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2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference

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United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP17/CMP7)
Information
Date:28/11/2011 - 9/12/2011
Location:Durban, South Africa
Webpagecop17-cmp7durban.com

The 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference is an ongoing conference, held in Durban, South Africa, from 28 November to 9 December 2011.[1]

The conference is officially referred to as the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 7th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties (CMP 7) to the Kyoto Protocol. In addition, the two permanent subsidiary bodies of the UNFCCC – the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) – are likely to hold their 35th sessions. The 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference extended the mandates of the two temporary subsidiary bodies – the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP) and the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA) – so they are expected to meet as well.

A primary focus of the conference is to secure a global climate agreement as the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period (2008–2012) is about to end. [2] It is also expected to focus on "finalising at least some of the Cancun Agreements", reached at the 2010 Conference, such as "co-operation on clean technology", as well as "forest protection, adaptation to climate impacts, and finance - the promised transfer of funds from rich countries to poor in order to help them protect forests, adapt to climate impacts, and "green" their economies".[3]

A month before the Conference began, the BBC highlighted two contentious proposals which had been submitted - one by Russia, the other by Papua New Guinea, both aiming to amend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Russia's proposal[4] would bring about a "periodic review" whereby countries currently categorised as "poor" could be recategorised as "rich", and thus obliged to shoulder greater obligations in the combat against climate change. BBC Environment correspondant Richard Black commented that the proposal would be "provocative and explosive, if Russia pushes it", because potentially affected countries, such as China and Brazil, would "push back very strongly". Papua New Guinea's proposal[5], submitted by Ambassador Kevin Conrad with the support of Mexico, would introduce a "last resort" mechanism to break any deadlocks in climate change negotiations through a three-quarters majority vote, thus clarifying the decision-making process under the Convention. Describing the proposal as "intriguing", Black noted that although it would theoretically enable developing countries to use their numerical superiority to adopt any kind of world-wide binding obligation, in practical terms they would still need the approval of rich countries to secure funding.[3]

Who is responsible?

Per capita

The World dirty top countries were in 2009 (tonnes/capita): 1) Gibraltar 152, 2) Virgin Islands U,S 114, 3) Qatar 80, 4) Netherlands Antilles 51, 5) Bahrain 43. 6) United Arab Emirates 40, 7) Trinidad and Tobago 39, 8) Singapore 34, 9) Kuwait 10) Montserrat 29 11) Nauru 22, 12) Luxembourg 21.5 13) Australia 20 14) Brunei 19.5 15) Saudi Arabia 18.5.[6] All emissions from building and cement production are local but some people may argue that a share of fuels and/or goods are consumed abroad.[7]

Fossil fuels emission 2009

According to data from the US Energy Information Administration Russia was the fourth top emitter by fossil fuels CO2 in 2009: 1) China: 7,710 million tonnes (mt) (25.4%) ahead of 2) US: 5,420 mt (17.8%), 3) India: 1,600 mt (5.3%), ””4) Russia: 1,570 mt (5.2%)”” and 5) Japan: 1,100 mt (3.6%).[7]

All greenhouse gas emissions 2005

Among the top emitter of all greenhouse gas emissions in 2005 including building and deforestation: 1. China: 7,220 mt (16.4%), 2. US: 6,930 mt (15.7%), 3. Brazil: 2,860 mt (6.5%), 4. Indonesia: 2,050 mt (4.6%), 5. Russia: 2,030 mt (4.6%), 6. India: 1,870 mt (4.2%), 7. Japan: 1,390 mt (3.1%), 8. Germany: 1,010 mt (2.3%), 9. Canada: 810 mt (1.8%), and 10. Mexico: 700 mt (1.6%).[7]

Cumulative emissions between 1850 and 2007

In the cumulative emissions between 1850 and 2007 Russia was third top emittor following: 1. US: 339,200 mt (28.8%) 2. China: 105,900 mt (9.0%), 3. Russia: 94,700 mt (8.0%), 4. Germany: 81,200 mt (6.9%), 5. UK: 68,800 mt (5.8%), 6. Japan: 45,600 mt (3.87%), 7. France: 32,700 mt (2.77%), 8. India: 28,800 mt (2.44%), 9. Canada: 25,7100 MT (2.2%) and 10. Ukraine: 25,400 mt (2.2%).[7] Political decisions make persons and companies to react in a rationale way.

Private persons, companies or politicians?

According to Swedish Professor Christian Azar it may be even dangerous to accuse the private persons of their emissions if this discussion will focus the problem solution in a wrong way. The political decisions are more effective.[8] Both private persons and companies act when there are political and economical incentives in place. Climate change can be solved by political decision.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://unfccc.int/meetings/unfccc_calendar/items/2655.php
  2. ^ [1], The Guardian, December 14, 2010
  3. ^ a b "Durban: A summit of small steps?", BBC, 31 October 2011
  4. ^ "Proposal from the Russian Federation to amend article 4, paragraph 2 (f), of the Convention"
  5. ^ "Proposal from Papua New Guinea and Mexico to amend Articles 7 and 18 of the Convention"
  6. ^ World carbon dioxide emissions data by country: China speeds ahead of the rest Guardian 31 January 2011
  7. ^ a b c d Which nations are most responsible for climate change? Guardian 21 April 2011 Cite error: The named reference "Guardian2010" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ Chriastian Azar: Makten over klimatet, Bonnier hösten 2008 (from editors memory, please check)
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