UN chief warns the world 'will not make it' to agreement on climate change
유엔 기후변화협약 사무총장 이보 드 보어는 지구온난화를 막기 위한 세계적 합의에 대해 "지금과 같은 행보로는 이르지 못할 것"이라고 경고했다.
The UN's climate change chief Yvo de Boer has warned the world will "will not make it at this rate" to come to an agreement on how to tackle global warming.
By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent
Published: 7:08PM BST 14 Aug 2009
Yvo de Boer says the world risks failing to reach a deal on climate change
More than 90 countries are due to meet in Copenhagen at the end of the year to decide a new agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol.
However Mr Boer, head of the UN climate change secretariat, said only "selective progress" had been made at the latest round of negotiations in Bonn. A deal would most likely see richer countries reduce carbon emissions while poorer countries are given more help to switch to a green economy. "If we continue at this rate we are not going to make it," he said. "Momentum for a strong result is building at the highest political level. The G8 and the Major Economies Forum are moving forward but that action is not ambitious enough."
He warned that just 15 days of negotiations remain before key UN talks begin in December in Copenhagen at meetings in Bangkok in September and October and Barcelona in November.
"As Copenhagen approaches I keep hearing people say we can delay action on climate change that we can survive a rise of over two degrees C temperature rise, that we can safely cut costs and safely cut corners, that there are other priorities. I believe this is a way to disaster. A deal at Copenhagen this year is simply an unequivacol requirement to stop climate change slipping out of control."
Environmental groups also reacted with disappointment.
Mike Childs, head of climate change at Friends of the Earth, criticised rich countries for failing to agree to cut their own greenhouse gas emissions rather than relying on carbon offsetting.
"Rich countries are once again pushing the con of carbon offsetting at UN climate change talks, which means avoiding real action through dodgy accounting and putting pitifully inadequate targets on the table. Not only does this do nothing to protect people from the threat of runaway climate change, it means the UK will miss out on the new green jobs and industries that would be created by moving to a safe, clean, low-carbon future," he said.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/6030718/UN-chief-warns-the-world-will-not-make-it-to-agreement-on-climate-change.html
UN's climate chief warns of real risk of failure at climate change talks
Yvo de Boer says process too slow to reach deal at close of meeting in Bonn aimed at trimming 200-page draft treaty
David Adam, environment correspondent
guardian.co.uk, Friday 14 August 2009 18.16 BST
Cooling towers at Eggborough power station, near Selby. Photograph: John Giles/PA
A new global treaty on climate change is unlikely unless negotiations accelerate, the UN's top climate change official warned today. Speaking at the close of another meeting intended to lay the ground for a new deal, Yvo de Boer, head of the UN climate secretariat said there was a real risk of failure.
According to Reuters, he said: "If we continue at this rate we're not going to make it." De Boer said the week-long meeting in Bonn had made only "selective progress" towards trimming a huge 200-page draft treaty text.
He warned that just 15 days of negotiations remain before key UN talks begin in December in Copenhagen at meetings in Bangkok in September and October and Barcelona in November.
The Bonn talks were not expected to make a significant breakthrough. Observers said there was little movement on the key issues of new curbs on greenhouse gas pollution and funds to help poorer nations cope with global warming.
"It is clear that there is quite a significant uphill battle if we are going to get there," said Jonathan Pershing, head of the US delegation, according to Reuters. But he said there were some signs of movement. "You absolutely can get there," he said.
"Delegates spent too much time arguing over procedures and technicalities. This is not the way to overcome mistrust between rich and poor nations," said Kim Carstensen, head of WWF Global Climate Initiative. "Delegates are kept back by political gridlock. The political leaders must now unblock the process."
Mike Childs, head of climate change at Friends of the Earth, said: "Rich countries are once again pushing the con of carbon offsetting at UN climate change talks, which means avoiding real action through dodgy accounting and putting pitifully inadequate targets on the table. Not only does this do nothing to protect people from the threat of runaway climate change, it means the UK will miss out on the new green jobs and industries that would be created by moving to a safe, clean, low-carbon future."
The talks closed as India said the new global climate change agreement should ban trade barriers erected by rich countries against those that refuse to accept limits on their carbon emissions.
India suggested a clause to bar any country from taking action against another country's goods and services based on its climate policy. The clause is largely directed against efforts by US Congress to impose trade penalties on countries that do not commit to specific action against greenhouse gases. India's chief delegate Shyam Saran said such measures looked like "protectionism under a green label," and were complicating the latest round of climate negotiations in Bonn.
Trade issues are "extraneous to what we are trying to construct here, which is a collaborative response to an extraordinary global challenge," Saran told the Associated Press.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/aug/14/bonn-climate-change-talks