Baltic and European news
States conclude "historic" climate change talks
2001, 12/12/05World governments have agreed to continue and strengthen the fight against global warming at the close of two weeks of international negotiations in Montreal, Canada. The conference will be remembered in particular for launching talks on further greenhouse gas reductions after 2012.
Finally grinding to a halt at 6.15am on Saturday, the Montreal talks produced far more progress than seemed possible earlier in the fortnight. A jubilant EU called the outcome a "watershed". The UN called the meeting "one of the most productive ever". Even environmental groups, generally quick to criticise, issued positive assessments.
The conference adopted 40 decisions in all. Its progress and conclusions have been widely reported by the world's media.
Environment Daily offers the following brief summary of key outcomes:
* Parties to the Kyoto protocol agreed to set up a group to start discussions on DEEPER EMISSION CUTS BY INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES AFTER 2012, when the protocol's current limits expire. The group will first meet next May. It has been asked to ensure continuity between the 2008-12 commitment period and the one that follows.
By signalling that emission reductions will continue after 2012, the agreement reaffirms Kyoto as a central engine of global climate change policy. It also sends a strong signal that carbon emissions will continue to have a market value in future.
* Parties to the protocol's parent climate change convention have, in parallel, agreed to hold a thorough DIALOGUE ON LONG-TERM ACTIONS TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE and to report back to the next conference of parties but one, meaning probably the end of 2007.
The key significance of this second negotiations track is that it will include developing countries and Kyoto-refusnik rich nations the USA and Australia. It keeps open the possibility of a broader global framework involving both these groups.
* The Marrakech accords, or "KYOTO RULE-BOOK", were adopted, strengthening the legal framework for implementing the protocol. Key elements include agreements on a COMPLIANCE REGIME to enforce the protocol's rules; a STRONGER, BETTER FUNDED CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM; and the LAUNCH OF JOINT IMPLEMENTATION.
* Parties agreed to launch a REVIEW OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL, due to kick-off at the next annual conference in late 2006.
* Under the protocol's parent convention parties agreed a five-year work programme on IMPACTS OF AND ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE and launched a one-year process to define how the convention's ADAPTATION FUND will be operated. Parties reaffirmed the importance of TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER, and agreed to start talks on possible SUPPORT FOR FORESTATION AND REFORESTATION.
Follow-up: UNFCCC http://unfccc.int/2860.php, plus COP11 webpages http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_11/items/3394.php,
closing press release
and meeting decisions http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_11/items/3394.php.
See also Earth negotiations bulletin http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop11/ for detailed coverage. And see reactions and statements from EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas: 8 December http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/779
and 11 December http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/473;
the UK environment ministry http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/051210a.htm (which represented the EU).
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