LRQA COP 16 Blog, Day four – Negotiations Progressing Steadily in Cancun
3rd December 2010 by Madlen King
By Madlen King, Global Head of Climate Change and Sustainability, LRQA
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First thing yesterday morning the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) discussed conclusions on the national communications and greenhouse gas inventory data from Annex 1 Parties for the periods 1990-2007 and 1990 – 2008 and the annual reports from Annex B Parties for 2009 and 2010. A specific contact group on this subject discussed their draft conclusions. The only debate related to the submission from the Annex 1 Parties and whether to include a note in the conclusions with quantified summary data regarding increases and decreases. The summary data concluded that over the period 1990-2008 total GHG emissions (excluding those from land use, land use change and forestry – LULUCF) for all Annex 1 Parties decreased by 6.1%, and total emissions including LULUCF decreased by 10.4%; for Annex 1 Parties with economies in transition total GHG emissions decreased by 36.8% and 48.5% respectively; but for Annex 1 parties whose economies are not in transition total GHG emissions increased by 7.9% and 8.9% respectively. The recognition of this top-level data was requested to be included by a number of the parties, including China and Bolivia in order to draw attention specifically to the increases emerging. However consensus on the issue was not reached and the issue was parked until Friday.
The contact group discussing the Adaptation Fund that met yesterday morning squeezed into the room allocated, reflecting the level of interest in the halls on this subject and the potential that it has to assist developing countries adapt to climate change. The representative from Jamaica referred to the fund as a ‘solidarity fund’, and the progress that is now being made in making available direct access to funding for developing countries is evidence of the successes achieved thus far.
The floor discussed language currently being used regarding the ‘pledges’ that developed countries have made to contribute to the fund, with Norway expressing that for many countries (themselves included) these were no longer pledges as they had been fulfilled by the transfer of funds already made. However, for those countries that have not yet come good on their pledge, the discussions were proposing that the language be strengthened and that these Parties should be ‘urged’ to provide their support.
Whilst funding available in the Fund as of 10 September 2010 was 168.7 million US dollars, a number of the parties expressed concerns that this remains woefully inadequate to address the problem at hand and sought assistance from the Fund to establish and accredit their National Implementing Entities to enable that funding to be accessed for proposed projects on the table for climate change adaptation.
The meeting was one of highs and lows – whilst funding is available in the millions, this remains inadequate and it needs to be put to use for climate change adaptation more quickly.
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Madlen King is the Global Head of Climate Change & Sustainability. She ensures the technical integrity of LRQA climate change and sustainability services and liaises with external bodies and governments on climate change. Within this role, Madlen is responsible for the service design, delivery and maintenance of accreditations for all GHG validation and verification schemes [...]