Slow progress on Paris climate deal as poor nations seek more money

While debate persists about the links between hurricanes and climate change, a study released last May in the journal Nature found that wind speeds in tropical cyclones increased from 1984 to 2012, although there were slightly fewer storms than scientists would expect had ocean and land temperatures not increased. This crisis is marked by the highest average global temperatures, the months-long serious haze caused by forest burning in South-East Asia and heavy rainfall causing floods in many parts of the world, as well as typhoons and cyclones. However, she said, the issue of financial assistance to the poor was still showing “more fundamental differences”. In Paris, the global community seeks to a new climate agreement to limit the Erderwrmung to below two degrees compared to pre-industrial era in.

The success of Paris, said Ms Mxakato-Diseko, will be judged by “what will be contained inside” the core agreement, “not what has been announced by the World Bank, which is a competitor with developing countries for finance to give to us on conditions that are unregulated”. “It is essential that the mitigation efforts of countries are distributed in an equitable manner and the global carbon budget is not exceeded”, said Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment.

“It seems like nothing has changed to the kind of way to operate in previous years. They are undermining the right of poor developing countries to receive support they need to adapt and develop in a clean manner”.

A vote against adopting the proposed text would throw the talks into crisis.

Obama has said that while the targets individual countries have offered so far aren’t strong enough to avoid the 2-degrees warming, he believes they are at a good starting point that leaders can build on in the future. This will be the draft text that will form the basis of the negotiations in Paris from November 30 to December 11. But it faced criticism from developing countries’ groupings including the G77 and China, the Africa Group and the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC).

The criticisms include that the draft is one-sided in favour of developed countries and that it departs from the Convention’s principles and provisions. They are all treated in a like manner, wiping out the notions of historical responsibility and equity.

The draft also omits the obligation for developed countries to provide the needed funds, with no mention of the earlier promised US$100bil (RM425bil) a year by 2020.

That row has galvanised the G77 and China group of countries, a body representing more than 130 nations in the negotiations, and accounting for around 80% of the world’s population. “It is extremely unbalanced and lopsided, and it jeopardises the interests and positions of developing countries”.

The chairman gavelled through a proposal to endorse the latest draft agreement.

The problem is firstly, that the basic differences (especially between North and South) are still there, and secondly time is running out.

“They can not be allowed to stand as they are for the next 10 to 15 years”. They now only have just six weeks to figure that out. The developing nations do not just want commitments to the total amount to be spent on combatting climate change, but want clarity on where it will come from and what it would be used for.

And developing countries, assured by the serious actions of developed countries, including on providing finance and technology, should then have the confidence to make their own ambitious pledges.

“France is opening up to all ministers and you can see what’s happening – it will try and get something which can be taken to ministers in Paris and it can say – most of you were there”, said Ronnie Jumeau, Seychelles climate ambassador. The views expressed here are entirely his own.