Climate Alliance at the Climate Change Conference in Durban

By Thomas Brose

19.12.2011 - Another climate change conference has come to an end at which the hope of binding global action to combat climate change has not been fulfilled. Instead, this has once again been adjourned. With the document agreed (the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action), a road map has been drawn up that foresees a global treaty by 2020. This will mean almost ten more years of the negotiation marathon with an uncertain outcome and no fixed global measures. Scientists have been warning of the ever smaller time window for effective measures to limit global warming to 2°C for years now. Extension of the Kyoto Protocol with binding aims is considered too weak. Leading polluters such as Canada, Russia and Japan have already declared their unwillingness to support an extension of the Kyoto Protocol – Canada even wishes to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol before it has even expired. However, the remaining states produce just 15 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. The reduction commitments for a further commitment period are only to be agreed next year, and it remains unclear when exactly this period should begin and end.

Are there any positive developments to report?
As is always the case at international conferences where diplomacy and the different interests of individual states play an important role, one must take a closer look at the details. It then becomes clear that with its refusal policy, the USA is losing influence – primarily to China. The EU has entered into a strategic alliance with the small states affected the most by climate change, such as the island states who fear that their territories could already be submerged in just a few years time. For them the international process is one of the few opportunities to bring their interests to the attention of more influential governments.

The setting up of a Green Climate Fund, which is to primarily make funding available to the poorer states for climate protection and adjustment to the consequences of climate change, was celebrated as a key success (100 billion US dollars each year until 2020). The interim committee established at last year’s conference in Cancún was officially confirmed, and the fund designated an operating entity of the financing mechanism of the Convention. However, it remains unclear where funding for this should actually come from. Several states have applied to host the fund, including Germany.

The indigenous partners
Indigenous representatives from around the globe were once again in attendance at the conference to voice their concerns. The leading issue was recognition of their land rights. The instrument for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) currently being negotiated and that has received significant attention in recent years constitutes the indigenous groups’ focus. However, various studies and analyses meanwhile show that while the exact rules for the instrument have not yet been agreed, the consequences for the indigenous communities tend to be negative. For the indigenous people, REDD is already a reality. A Peruvian study pinpointed the following key issues:

• The current framework conditions for REDD further exacerbate the land conflicts in indigenous areas and lead to the disregard of indigenous rights.
• Endeavours to develop REDD often do not form part of an overall national strategy for forest protection and are counteracted by other development measures (e.g. the construction of roads and dams, mining projects, etc.).
• The indigenous communities are not provided with sufficient information about the instrument and the disadvantages of REDD.

Our partner organisation, COICA, has therefore developed alternatives such as an indigenous REDD, which is based on indigenous rights and rejects compensation for industrialised nations. They would very much like to present this concept in Europe next year.

In Durban, further development of REDD proved marginally successful, and without any binding greenhouse gas reduction commitments, the instrument loses its legitimacy. The central decision on the source of funding (market-based sources or public funds) was once again adjourned until next year.

The municipalities in Durban
In Durban, Climate Alliance presented the successful climate protection measures instigated by a great many member municipalities. As in previous years, the Green Footprints collected by children from across Europe were presented to UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Christiana Figueres. A record was once again set: 2.7 million Green Footprints were collected. Figueres has highlighted the importance of the local level in effective climate protection on numerous occasions.

During a joint event with the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, the details of CO2 emission reductions that have actually been achieved were outlined, which were calculated with Climate Alliance’s monitoring tool. Information and statements from countless members on climate protection and concrete successes were showcased at the Climate Alliance stand.

The Covenant of Mayors was presented at the joint event with the EU’s Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA).

The lack of agreement on an international level means the role of the municipalities as partners for the achievement of climate protection goals on the national level is becoming increasingly important.