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Bonn, 8 April 2009: There was no real movement on the major issues at this years' first round of climate negotiations, which came to a close in Bonn today. "The current targets and pledges are not enough for the agreement we need in Copenhagen", says Klaus Milke, Chairman of Germanwatch. "We need national leaders to show they have the political will to keep global warming below 2 degrees at the upcoming international meetings leading to the G8 summit. This is the only way for us to get the necessary dynamics for the climate summit in Copenhagen".
One difference to the negotiations in Poznan was felt here in Bonn - the atmosphere had changed: "Work on some details was constructive. Having the USA essentially rejoin the process certainly had a positive effect on this. The gap between the negotiation details and the concrete numbers that need to be put on the table is still immense though," explained Christoph Bals, Executive Director for Policy at Germanwatch.
"Countries are blocking each other.
The developing nations are demanding, and with some justification, that
rich countries support their efforts to adapt to climate change, and emit
less greenhouse gases. At the same time, the industrialised countries are
only willing to put forwards ambitious CO2 reduction targets if the developing
countries are prepared for their share of the reductions. This constellation
is preventing any movement on these crucial issues", Klaus Milke says.
Scientific studies show that industrial nations must reduce their CO2 emissions
by more than 40 percent by 2020, if the highly dangerous level of 2 degrees
global warming is to be averted with a high probability.
"At all the coming heads of state
and government meetings, they will need to make clear that they are seizing
the moment and using the opportunity offered by the current crisis to make
massive investments in green technology. This would have the co-benefit
of serving the climate - but perhaps just as importantly averting an energy
and security crisis that will otherwise be on the horizon when the economy
picks up again," said Bals.
On an international level it is necessary to have the US, the European Union and China demonstrate strong leadership, so as to step up the pace of the negotiations. The least developed countries and Small Island States, fearing for their very existence, will also be playing a crucial role: They have and will be exerting pressure on the large industrial and emerging economies to finally take serious steps on climate change.
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