Figueres said here on the 27th that the Durban Conference mainly has two agendas: one is to implement the results of the Cancun Agreement in Mexico in 20 10, launch the "Green Climate Fund" and strengthen international cooperation on climate change; The second is the negotiation on extending the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, which is a complicated political task for all countries.
Before the meeting, the game about climate change became more and more fierce. Although the European Union, the United States, the umbrella group, the basic four countries, the Group of 77, the small island countries and the poorest countries have expounded their views from different positions, after three preparatory meetings, there are still serious differences on key issues such as the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, especially Japan, Canada and Russia, which indicated that they are not going to renew the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and the emission reduction targets of the United States. South African President Zuma said: "The Durban meeting will obviously not be as easy as going to the park. This will be a difficult meeting. "
Ma Cha Banier, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, said on 23rd that the success of the Durban Climate Conference must abide by the Cancun Agreement, including the establishment of major mechanisms and systems, and the "Green Climate Fund" will be the core topic of the Durban Climate Conference. Figueres said that tackling climate change is not only related to environmental issues, but also means revolutionary changes in global production and consumption.
Looking forward to reaching the "Durban Road Map"
As one of the main agendas of Durban Climate Change Conference, the renewal of the second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol will undoubtedly be the focus of this conference.
Negotiators of the EU delegation held a press conference on the 27th, saying that the EU expects this meeting to implement the Cancun Agreement and launch the "Green Climate Fund", and at the same time expects to reach binding emission reduction targets. However, the EU climate change negotiator said that the EU's greenhouse gas emissions only account for 1 1% of global emissions. In the case that some major economies do not commit to emission reduction, and Russia, Japan and Canada are not prepared to renew the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, it is of little significance for the EU to commit to mandatory emission reduction. He said that the EU is open to signing a binding emission reduction agreement, expecting to reach a "Durban road map", and described such a "Durban road map" as an "agreement", that is, major economies promised to reduce emissions and how to achieve it, but it is temporarily impossible to specify the date of mandatory emission reduction.
Developing countries have a firm attitude towards extending the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. The basic four countries (China, India, Brazil and South Africa) put forward a common goal at the 9th Ministerial Conference on Climate Change held recently, that is, to adhere to the commitments in the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol, hoping to further implement the emission reduction actions of developing countries on the basis of the quantitative emission reduction commitments made by the United States. "Group of 77+China" and small island countries support this position, and so does Britain. John Aston, Special Representative for Climate Change of the British Foreign Office, said on the 25th that Britain is working hard to push the EU to unconditionally raise the greenhouse gas emission reduction target from 20% to 30%. To this end, the UK is willing to further increase its emission reduction targets.
However, some developed countries have different positions on this issue. Stern, the special envoy of the United States for climate change negotiations, said recently that the United States will not consult with all parties on the Kyoto Protocol at the Durban Climate Conference, nor does it believe that all parties will reach a binding agreement on emission reduction commitments before 2020 in Durban. Goshi Hosono, Japan's environment minister, recently said that Japan opposes the extension of the Kyoto Protocol and hopes to reach a fair and binding new international framework agreement in which all major emitters participate.
Implementing financial and technical arrangements is the key.
Climate funding arrangements and technology transfer are related to the vital interests of all countries, especially developing countries, and are also a focus of the Durban Climate Change Conference. Climate funding arrangements are divided into short-term funds and long-term funds. According to the Cancun agreement, developed countries should provide developing countries with $30 billion "Green Climate Fund" during the period of 20 10 to 20 12, which is a short-term fund. Long-term funding is from 20 12 to 2020, providing10 billion USD annually to support developing countries in coping with climate change.
Developing countries hope that developed countries will implement these climate funding arrangements as soon as possible to help developing countries cope with climate change. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also issued an appeal urging the governments of rich countries to increase their contributions in times of economic difficulties, lest the global climate change fund face the danger of becoming an "empty shell". Zumali launched the "Green Climate Fund" at the Durban Climate Conference and hoped that developed countries would provide start-up funds for the "Green Climate Fund". With regard to climate financing, African countries stressed that the Standing Committee on Financing should be put into operation and suggested that an additional agenda on long-term financing should be established. In terms of technology transfer, African countries believe that the Durban Conference should make a decision to make the technology transfer mechanism from developed countries to developing countries work in 20 12.
Developed countries have different attitudes towards this. The European Union said on the 27th that it promised to provide 7.2 billion euros of climate change funds from 20 10 to 20 12, and has already fulfilled two thirds of them, and is willing to further provide relevant funds to support the establishment of a financial support mechanism. Stern, the special envoy of the United States on climate change, said that the United States is in favor of setting up a "green climate fund" to help developing countries cope with climate change, but the door to setting up a fund is open not only to developed countries, but also to developing countries and private institutions.