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Frustration at climate change summit

Priscilla Jebaraj

Operationalising Adaptation Fund, a small success for developing countries

Adaptation Fund has become one of the few concrete results
Developing countries accuse rich nations of stalling all other proposals

POZNAN (POLAND): As the U.N. climate talks wound down here on Friday evening, developing countries are celebrating the small success of operationalising an Adaptation Fund, even while expressing frustration about the progress toward a post-2012 treaty to fight climate change. “It seems to be one small step for mankind, but it’s not a giant achievement for anyone,” said Pradipto Ghosh of The Energy and Resources Institute, a senior member of the Indian delegation speaking in the final hours of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change summit.

The Adaptation Fund was created last year to help the developing countries cope with the devastating impact of climate change – rising seas, melting glaciers and spreading deserts. Until now, the Fund’s board could not operate since it had no legal status and was blocked from directly disbursing money to developing countries.

However, the developing countries are still disappointed by the lack of dependable funding for the Fund, which currently contains 30 million carbon credits and is expected to be worth $300 million per year by 2012.

Adaptation needs are estimated at $86 billion per year, according to the United Nations Development Programme. The Developing countries want the Fund’s resources extended beyond the existing two per cent levy on the offset investments that rich countries make on green projects in the developing world through the Clean Development Mechanism(CDM), and the unpredictable route of aid and donations.

“We must get out of this ‘aid mindset’ for climate action. It’s not about aid. It’s about multilateral action,” said Mr. Ghosh calling for an expansion of funding through a levy on other Kyoto Protocol financial mechanisms including the emission trading schemes of developed nations.

Despite such unfulfilled demands, the Adaptation Fund has become one of the few concrete results here at Poznan, where delegates from 189 nations are halfway through negotiating a post-2012 climate change pact to cut greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change through mitigation, adaptation, technology and financial efforts.

A final deal must be reached next December in Copenhagen. A work agenda in the run-up to Copenhagen has been prepared, with draft negotiating texts expected by June. However, the developing countries and NGOs have accused rich nations of stalling all other proposals here . “Developed countries need to walk the talk. Taking commitments is fine, but they are not delivering on them. We want an ambitious but equitable agenda … Instead, they are looking for escape routes,” said an angry senior Indian delegate.

For example, the developed nations have blocked all efforts to include numbers, including the scientifically accepted figure of a 25 to 40 per cent cut in emissions from the 1990 levels by 2012. Instead, the language on emission reduction is a non-committal “cut and paste” of last year’s summit text, say delegates. The Developing countries were also frustrated at the postponement of solid decisions on financing green technologies, reforms to the CDM and establishing methodologies for reducing deforestation under the Convention. Meanwhile, star climate campaigner Al Gore brought an assurance to Poznan from U.S. President-elect Barack Obama that the U.S. would re-engage with the international community on climate change.

He also called for an even higher standard for emission reductions from the existing goal of 450 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 ppm. He received standing ovation as he invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s slogan of satyagraha and ended with Mr. Obama’s slogan: “Yes, we can.” The slow progress in Poznan has been blamed partly on the U.S. transition, and on the uncertainty of the European Union’s internal climate negotiations which ended on Friday with huge concessions for European industry.

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