Lack of Political Will Paralyses Bangkok Climate Talks

After two weeks of discussion and dialogue, the latest round of climate change negotiations has come to a close in Bangkok and we are only marginally closer to securing the deal we need in Copenhagen.

The talks were plagued by a lack of political will. It seems many negotiators were sent to Bangkok without a mandate to tackle the big political issues – such as emissions reductions targets for rich countries – leaving the talks paralysed.

Tensions rose further when the US and European Union (EU) clubbed together to demand the Kyoto Protocol – the foundation for global emissions reductions – be scrapped altogether and replaced by a new treaty.

While Kyoto has its faults, it would be dangerous to abandon it completely. One of its most important features is the clear distinction it makes between rich countries that are historically responsible for climate change, and poorer countries that are already suffering its effects. Crucially, under Kyoto it is the former – those who are historically responsible for climate change and have the capacity to do something about it – that must take the lead on cutting emissions.

Scrapping Kyoto could mean erasing this distinction between rich and poor, conveniently discarding the concept of historic responsibility, and could also mean poor developing countries that have done little to cause climate change may be forced to introduce disproportionate and crippling emissions cuts.

The G77, a group of developing countries, openly condemned the move by industrialised countries. In an open statement, they described it as an “alarming development”, adding: “Feelings are running high… it is clear that the rich countries want a deal outside of the Kyoto agreement. It would be a total rejection of their historical responsibilities.”

A wholly new treaty could take years to come into force, and we need action now if we are to prevent catastrophic climate change.

However there were glimmers of hope in Bangkok. Norway pledged to reduce its emissions by 40% by 2020, and now joins Scotland and Sweden as the only rich countries committed to reducing their emissions by the amount required according to science.

We must build on the good will generated by positive announcements such as these and transform it into action if we are to succeed in Copenhagen in December. I agree whole heartedly with Yvo de Boer, the head of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the body which facilitates these climate negotiations), when he says that negotiators must use the time between now and the next round of talks in Barcelona to: “…go back to those world leaders who called for a breakthrough in Copenhagen and get from them a mandate to resolve the key political issues that remain outstanding.” Lets hope they do just that…