China rejects plans for measurable and enforceable carbon reduction targets

GWPF | 9 Dec 2014

UN Climate Poker In Lima: Developing Nations Strengthen Alliance To Counter Western Pressure

India on Tuesday said the developing nations, including China, are on the same page on several issues regarding climate and they will work together to push for the conclusion of a historic agreement to be signed next year in Paris to curb potentially disastrous global warming. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, who held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of a climate summit at the Peruvian capital here, said Brazil, South Africa, India, and China – the BASIC countries – have decided to meet frequently throughout this week to resolve their differences. “The countries are all on the same page on several issues,” he told reporters. —Press Trust of India, 9 December 2014
India’s Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar has reportedly held discussions with his Brazil, South Africa, and China (BASIC) counterparts on climate change norms to be adopted. The meeting was hosted by South Africa, a day prior to the commencement of the High Level Segment of COP-20 in Lima. The ministers took stock of the ongoing negotiations in COP-20 and resolved to continue to work together to achieve an ambitious and positive outcome of the COP-20 in Lima, while preserving and strengthening the unity of developing countries to protect their common interests. —Business Standard India, 9 December 2014

European Union insistence on a right to challenge nations about their plans for fighting climate change, in the run-up to a United Nations summit in 2015, has opened a rift at U.N. climate talks in Lima. Washington said a review of national pledges for curbing rising greenhouse gas emissions before the U.N. summit in Paris next December was “not fundamental” and Beijing signaled hostility to the idea of letting other nations challenge its policies. Monday’s dispute has big implications for the deal in Paris, which could either be a patchwork of purely national offers to fight climate change beyond 2020, or one where countries and outside observers including green groups are able to challenge and influence the scope of national pledges. —Reuters, 9 December 2014

As Lima climate talks entered high ­level segment on Tuesday with beginning intensive discussions over two draft texts, released here a day before, to finalise the elements of next year’s global climate deal, countries found themselves deeply divided over the issues of ‘review of national pledges’ and treating ‘adaptation’ goal at par with ‘mitigation’ target. Interestingly, the division doesn’t restrict itself at usual rich­ poor (nations) divide on the issue of adaptation and taking responsibility under the principle of CBDRs (common but differentiated responsibilities), but also sees a rich ­rich divide where European Union (EU) and US­ led non­-EU umbrella group appear to be on different pages on matter of ‘review of national pledge’ by any outside body. –Vishwa Mohan, Times of India, 9 Dec ember 2014

Remember a few weeks ago, when Barack Obama triumphantly declared a deal with China to cut greenhouse gas emissions? We expressed deep skepticism at the time. As it turns out, our skepticism was warranted. When Obama struck his epic climate deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping, we suggested the American leader was engaged in self-delusion while the Chinese were laughing at us. Well, surprise, surprise. This week the South China Morning Post announced that Chinese negotiators have “rejected the scrutiny of (plans) to limit carbon emissions.” The Chinese refuse to agree to measurable and enforceable carbon reduction targets. So much for the Reagan maxim of “trust but verify.” —Investor’s Business Daily, 8 December 2014

European Union insistence on a right to challenge nations about their plans for fighting climate change, in the run-up to a United Nations summit in 2015, has opened a rift at U.N. climate talks in Lima. Washington said a review of national pledges for curbing rising greenhouse gas emissions before the U.N. summit in Paris next December was “not fundamental” and Beijing signaled hostility to the idea of letting other nations challenge its policies. —Reuters, 8 December 2014

1) Developing Nations Strengthen Alliance To Counter Western Pressure – Press Trust of India, 9 December 2014

2) BASIC Ministerial Meeting On UN Climate Negotiations Held at Lima – Business Standard India, 9 December 2014

3) EU Demand For Accountability Opens Rift At UN Climate Talks – Reuters, 9 December 2014

4) COP20: UN Climate Conference Deeply Divided Over Key Issues – Times of India, 9 Dec ember 2014

5) Obama’s Epic Climate Change Deal With China Falls Apart – Investor’s Business Daily, 8 December 2014

1) Developing Nations Strengthen Alliance To Counter Western Pressure
Press Trust of India, 9 December 2014

India on Tuesday said the developing nations, including China, are on the same page on several issues regarding climate and they will work together to push for the conclusion of a historic agreement to be signed next year in Paris to curb potentially disastrous global warming.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, who held several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of a climate summit at the Peruvian capital here, said Brazil, South Africa, India, and China – the BASIC countries – have decided to meet frequently throughout this week to resolve their differences.

“The countries are all on the same page on several issues,” he told reporters.
He noted that today’s meetings went well.

On Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), or the domestic climate action plans of countries to be included in the overall Paris 2015 agreement, he said the countries agree that the structure of INDCs should include more adaptation focus.

“What carbon space have you released for us to grow?,” Javadekar asked rhetorically when noting that adaptation needs to be an essential part of developed countries’ INDCs.

Referring to the Kyoto Protocol of 1992 standard of categorising countries into Annex 1 and 2 and determining contributions based on those terms, Javadekar said, “Differentiation should remain as is.”

The US and EU representatives said earlier today that they do not want to continue with that distinction of countries, but Javadekar said India “is not in favour of re-writing the Convention” in order to change that categorisation.

In terms of financial contributions, the BASIC countries all feel that developed countries must put their words into solid action through more meaningful financial contributions.

Javadekar also noted that in negotiating the draft elements of INDCs in Lima, India does not support an ex ante-review process because countries need the “internal freedom” to determine their climate action needs.

The Minister also described the “new climate legislative regime” to come with India’s review of laws on forest, wildlife, environment, water, and air and subsequent drafting of proposed amendments to make the laws and rules more clear and transparent.

Meanwhile, Javadekar held a bilateral meeting with Xie Zhenhua, China’s Vice-Chairman of National Development and Reform Commission.

The Ministers discussed issues of mutual interest relating to the ongoing negotiations on climate change including the recent joint statement by China and the US.

They discussed in particular the state of play of negotiations under the Ad-hoc Working Group on Durban Platform and stressed the need to maintain and strengthen the unity of developing countries to achieve an ambitious, comprehensive and equitable outcome of the process, an official statement said.

Both the ministers emphasised that the outcome of negotiations under the convention must fully adhere to the principles of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, it said.

They agreed that adaptation to climate change represents an urgent global priority and must be given equal emphasis in the new agreement.

Full story

2) BASIC Ministerial Meeting On UN Climate Negotiations Held at Lima
Business Standard India, 9 December 2014

Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar has reportedly held discussions with his Brazil, South Africa, and China (BASIC) counterparts on climate change norms to be adopted.

The meeting was hosted by South Africa, a day prior to the commencement of the High Level Segment of COP-20 in Lima.

This was their first ministerial-level meeting of the BASIC during COP-20. The meeting of BASIC lead negotiators took place last week.

The ministers took stock of the ongoing negotiations in COP-20 and resolved to continue to work together to achieve an ambitious and positive outcome of the COP-20 in Lima, while preserving and strengthening the unity of developing countries to protect their common interests.

Full story

3) EU Demand For Accountability Opens Rift At UN Climate Talks
Reuters, 9 December 2014

European Union insistence on a right to challenge nations about their plans for fighting climate change, in the run-up to a United Nations summit in 2015, has opened a rift at U.N. climate talks in Lima.

Washington said a review of national pledges for curbing rising greenhouse gas emissions before the U.N. summit in Paris next December was “not fundamental” and Beijing signaled hostility to the idea of letting other nations challenge its policies.

Monday’s dispute has big implications for the deal in Paris, which could either be a patchwork of purely national offers to fight climate change beyond 2020, or one where countries and outside observers including green groups are able to challenge and influence the scope of national pledges.

“There should be a process of assessment. That’s absolutely imperative,” Miguel Arias Canete, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, told a news conference.

Under a U.N. timetable, about 190 governments have an informal deadline to submit national plans for limiting rising greenhouse gas emissions before March 31, 2015, to give time for a review before the Paris summit.

The European Union, which announced in October that it plans to cuts its emissions by 40 percent by 2030, said the informal deadline made no sense unless it allowed nations to review each others’ plans for averting more heat waves, floods and rising sea levels.

Last month, the United States said it plans to cut its emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025, equivalent to 14 to 16 percent below 1990 levels, and China has promised to cap its soaring emissions by around 2030.

China last Friday demanded that all references to any formal review of emission targets should be deleted. But a new draft text for a U.N. decision in Lima, published on Monday, retained the idea of a formal review, requiring for example that countries answer within four weeks questions about their climate pledges.

The United States took a middle path, saying the important issue was to encourage ambition. “The U.S. is perfectly happy to have a consultative process,” said Todd Stern, special climate envoy and head of the U.S. delegation.

Full story

4) UN Climate Conference Deeply Divided Over Key Issues
Times of India, 9 Dec ember 2014

Vishwa Mohan, TNN

LIMA: As Lima climate talks entered high­level segment on Tuesday with beginning
intensive discussions over two draft texts, released here a day before, to finalise the elements of next year’s global climate deal, countries found themselves deeply divided over the issues of ‘review of national pledges’ and treating ‘adaptation’ goal at par with ‘mitigation’ target.

Interestingly, the division doesn’t restrict itself at usual rich­ poor (nations) divide on the issue of adaptation and taking responsibility under the principle of CBDRs (common but differentiated responsibilities), but also sees a rich ­rich divide where European Union (EU) and US­ led non­-EU umbrella group appear to be on different pages on matter of ‘review of national pledge’ by any outside body.

These two draft texts, released on Monday, are meant for finalising a negotiating outline for the Paris deal and reaching agreement on the format for carbon­ curbing pledges ­­ known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) ­­ that nations are to submit from the first quarter of next year.

The developing countries including India and China are on the same page on both the key issues of adaptation and review. They have sought inclusion of adaptation in the final deal and strongly opposed to review of their actions arguing that these will be the “nationally determined” contributions where there should not be any role of second party from outside.

Indian environment minister Prakash Javadekar and Xie Zhenhua, vice chairman, NDRC, China met on Monday and pledged to take common stand on these issues during the remaining four days of negotiation process.

Without going into the finer points of the meeting, Javadekar said both of them discussed “common positions” and also elements of the recent US-­China bilateral climate deal.

Though both India and China had last week demanded that all references to any formal review of emission targets should be deleted, the new draft text for a UN decision in Lima retained the idea of a formal review, requiring for countries to answer within four weeks questions about their climate pledges. Certainly, both these countries, backed by almost all developing countries, will oppose it vehemently.

The BASIC nations (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) too held a meeting separately where ministers resolved to move unitedly on key issues of adaptation, technology transfer and climate finance to achieve an ambitious and positive outcome of the talks in Lima, while preserving and strengthening the unity of developing countries to protect their common interests.

Before moving into the high ­level segment, many countries on Monday similarly indicated their country or group’s position. While the EU wanted nations to agree for periodic review of their national pledges, the US and some other non-­EU rich nations rather wanted countries to increase their ambition of emission cuts and clean energy.

“There should be a process of assessment. That’s absolutely imperative,” said Miguel Arias Canete, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, while addressing a press conference.

The EU pointed out that the informal deadline of emission cuts or other pledges made no sense unless it allowed nations to review each others’ plans for averting extreme weather events like heat­waves, floods and rising sea levels due to climate change.

The US has, however, taken a different stand, saying the key issue was to encourage ambition of each and every country. It doesn’t emphasise on review.

“The United States is perfectly happy to have a consultative process,” said Todd Stern, special climate envoy and head of the US delegation.

He said, “We had a concern from the beginning that we didn’t want to scare countries off … The most important part of this idea is sunshine. You encourage countries to be ambitious because they don’t want to look bad.” […]

Developing countries are, however, united on their demand for including ‘global goal for adaptation’ in the final climate deal. They are also in favour of including the provision of ‘loss and damage’ (support for those nations who have already faced losses due to pollution of environment by the rich nation due to their historical carbon emissions).

Though the EU has a bit liberal approach towards ‘loss and damage’, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand among other rich nations do not want this provision to be dealt with under the global climate deal which is to be applicable for the countries beyond 2020.

Nevertheless, all these elements are there in the draft texts which the ministers and negotiators would discuss for four days before finally agreeing for template of the global deal.

Full story

5) Obama’s Epic Climate Change Deal With China Falls Apart
Investor’s Business Daily, 8 December 2014

Remember a few weeks ago, when Barack Obama triumphantly declared a deal with China to cut greenhouse gas emissions? We expressed deep skepticism at the time. As it turns out, our skepticism was warranted.

When Obama struck his epic climate deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping, we suggested the American leader was engaged in self-delusion while the Chinese were laughing at us.

Nothing would stop China from moving full speed ahead with its economic development plans that rely heavily on cheap and abundant fossil fuels.

Well, surprise, surprise. This week the South China Morning Post announced that Chinese negotiators have “rejected the scrutiny of (plans) to limit carbon emissions.” The Chinese refuse to agree to measurable and enforceable carbon reduction targets.

So much for the Reagan maxim of “trust but verify.”

Even more demoralizing for the White House was the Reuters headline from last week on climate change talks: “Obama’s China Deal Backfires.”

It turns out that Beijing is much more interested in the Western nations ponying up a promised $100 billion in aid to developing countries to fight global warming than cutting emissions now. The U.S. and EU have offered $10 billion in immediate aid, to which Su Wei, China’s lead climate negotiator, scoffed: “$10 billion is just one-10th of that objective.”

The other big new greenhouse gas emitter in the world, India, has flatly said no to emissions caps. And like China, it insists on cash payments from the west.

Meanwhile, the United Nations’ climate change spokeswoman, Christiana Figueres, dismissed the U.S. commitment of $10 billion as “a very, very small sum.”

It will take trillions of dollars, she says, to decarbonize the planet. And guess who she has in mind to pay that steep price tag?

This is sounding more and more like an old-fashioned green shakedown for money, not an enforceable treaty commitment by Beijing or any of the developing nations to lower their greenhouse gases.

As feared, President Obama has struck a historic climate change deal with … himself. Neither China nor India has any intention of cutting back, and those, like Obama, who think they will are delusional.

America will give up jobs and money (eventually trillions of dollars) and pay higher energy prices, and the rest of the world will do nothing. What a deal.

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