Editorial
All eyes on Copenhagen
The world looks expectantly for a deal
THE atmospheric build-up to world climate conference in Copenhagen on which the curtain is being raised today has been climactically propitious. It is marked by a forward-looking change at the upper echelons of the world order which also happen to be the biggest emitters of green house gases. As such they bear the responsibility of leading the way in cutting GHG emissions, a task to which they seem to be warming up with a degree of flexibility missing so far.
The change of heart in the USA, which had turned its back to the Kyoto protocol is rather remarkable and hope-raising. President Barak Obama beginning on a note of ´delay is no option` has graduated through making emission cut commitments to shifting the timing of his visit to Copenhagen to coincide with the summit in the final hours.
The US commitment admittedly falls short of the minimally required emission cut of 25 per cent from the 1991 levels, these being 17 per cent of the mid-2000 level which actually works out to 6 per cent at best of the 1991 levels. But with Europe, China and India making specific proposals to cut back on carbon intensities there is now a basis for those who contribute most to carbon emissions to try and work out a deal. Canada, Japan and Australia among the industrial countries are also taking a positive approach.
The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change of the UN, the most authoritative voice on climate change has debunked a theory lately touted by some detractors that it's nature rather than human activities that is principally causing climate change. So, the scientists and the political leaders are on the same page.
Apart from mitigation through carbon emission cuts, energy efficiency and greening of energy sources, the big issues before the summit are financing and technologically supporting adaptation measures by countries on the vulnerability radar of severe forms of climatic change.
It is estimated that funds worth US$100 billion per year would be needed right up to 2020 for containing world temperature within 2 degree Celsius and limiting green house emission to 450ppm as well as in financing adaptation. But the known commitments fall far short of the estimated requirement.
The run-up is congenial, according to keen watchers of the unfolding scenarios to striking a political frame-work deal in Copenhagen which then is expected to be followed by a legally binding agreement sometime in the middle of 2010. One has only to wait and see whether something more than this can be achieved in Copenhagen itself. It's a real test for world leadership. They must rise to the occasion.
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