Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Negotiating the future

By Ioan Voicu - posted Friday, 28 March 2008


The consequences of climate change as a global issue cannot be negotiated with ambiguous plans and intentions. It is an extremely difficult field to explore, as it is in the sphere of prophesy, projection, prediction, planning and promise.

All these aspects were abundantly illustrated by the statements made in September 2007 at the New York session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, the largest-ever high-level diplomatic gathering on this issue, with participants from over 150 countries, including some 70 heads of state and government present.

Further evidence came from 187 countries attending the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia, in December 2007. The conference adopted the Bali Action Plan, a roadmap for negotiating global pollution cuts after 2012.

Advertisement

It was decided to launch a comprehensive process to enable the full, effective and sustained implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in order to reach an agreed outcome and a shared vision on the matter. It includes a long-term global goal for emission reductions, in accordance with the principle of common, but differentiated, responsibilities and capabilities. A new comprehensive legal instrument has to be drafted, negotiated and completed for adoption by 2009 so that all states can ratify it in time.

During a new marathon debate in the UN General Assembly in February 2008, 115 speakers took the floor. That was an additional testimony to the importance of taking immediate practical measures to cope with the formidable challenges of climate change.

The fundamental question was: how can the UN turn awareness of climate change into a coherent program to effectively support the Bali Action Plan?

The UN itself will have a crucial role to play in implementing such a program, including a negotiation calendar, in particular through the obligations deriving from the UNFCCC as a universal legal instrument already offering the basis for a great variety of actions. It is expected that the final UNFCCC meeting in Copenhagen in 2009 will do more by adopting a comprehensive, global and long-term framework for climate change.

All debates dealing with adaptation, mitigation, technology and financing in the area of climate change had the undisputable merit of conveying a strong message that this global issue must remain one of the top priorities. However, the debates could not offer a pragmatic answer to the critical question about how to translate a collective political will into effective commitments to implement the roadmap of negotiations approved in Bali.

Many delegations urged the UN to promote integrated partnerships and approaches with all interested stakeholders, in particular the private sector and local authorities. The private sector can be instrumental in fostering innovation, developing and transferring new technologies, leveraging green investment and helping people change their attitudes about these issues.

Advertisement

Some developed countries announced their intention to provide fresh financing and enhance the roles of international financial institutions and the private sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Accelerating technology transfers to developing countries and securing sufficient financing for adaptation and mitigation were considered by many states imperative urgent tasks.

A dynamic diplomacy

Negotiating workable solutions for the tasks mentioned above is not easy. Developing countries believe they have contributed the least to climate change, while developed countries have enjoyed high levels of consumption that have led to a dangerous situation. Many developing countries describe themselves as environmental creditors of developed countries. That status has created a moral and environmental debt that must be repaid. Consequently, the negotiation process cannot be strictly limited to the Bali roadmap.

The Group of 77 (132 countries) and China believe that discussions should be placed within the proper context of sustainable development. In their opinion, deliberations on the matter must reinforce the promotion of sustainable development, highlighting its three pillars: economic development, social development and environmental protection. All three have to be negotiated in an integrated, co-ordinated and balanced manner.

A few states advanced or refreshed significant political and educational initiatives. As the future is frequently anticipated only in the form of absolute danger, some countries called upon the UN Security Council to react to climate change threats. Indeed, under the UN Charter, the Security Council shall determine the existence of any threat to peace and shall take decisions to maintain or restore international peace and security. The countries concerned appealed to the Council to do that in the context of climate change, as it is obliged to prevent an aggravation of the situation and to devise appropriate measures for all states to carry out.

Mindful of the scientific research that excessive greenhouse gas emissions are the cause of threats to global security, they suggested that the Council consider imposing mandatory emissions caps for all states and use its power to sanction in order to encourage compliance. It should be recalled that the Security Council convened a first meeting on this topic in April 2007 but no action was taken. However, there is no doubt that climate change poses new security and geopolitical challenges that require collective responses in the future.

In an academic context, Malta organised the first international conference to address climate change diplomacy in 2008. The conference considered topical issues relating to challenges of inter-professional communication in climate change diplomacy (for example, between scientists and diplomats), priorities for capacity building in the Bali process (immediate and long-term needs of small states).

An important conclusion of the conference was the recognition of the need for a multi-stakeholder, multi-disciplinary, holistic and systematic approach to climate change, taking into account all possible opportunities for strengthening synergies with environmental and other global processes.

Further energetic efforts are necessary to better strengthen and co-ordinate UN activities on climate change. A universal strategy on the matter is still on the waiting list. Exchanges of views and information-sharing are only a preliminary component of the expected process. A permanent co-ordination of operational measures is necessary, as the existing fragmentation of activities undertaken by different UN agencies is detrimental to the very concept of a global strategy in this area.

How these vital requirements will be treated remains to be seen. An official meeting will be held in Bangkok from March 31 to April 4, 2008 to turn the Bali Action Plan into a working agenda for the next two years. One of the priorities will be to focus on the engagement of major stakeholders to see what they could contribute towards tackling climate change, and to find out what they wish to stipulate in an international legal instrument. The meeting will also set the specific terms of reference of the next round of negotiations.

The future cannot be neutral. It is the object of conflicting actions inspired by policies which are far from being convergent. A Chinese proverb says: "If you want to know your past - look into your present conditions. If you want to know your future - look into your present actions." Governments should critically assess their present actions and behaviour. However, they cannot easily harmonise their roles, institutions and positions even when they are under the peril of a global crisis. It is the duty of multilateral diplomacy to help governments go beyond general discussions and negotiate win-win consensus solutions.

Diplomats from 192 countries are expected to help promote network building, practice inclusiveness, encourage interactivity and shape in good faith a process leading to a generally acceptable outcome. This must respond to the aspirations of humankind as a whole. To achieve this universal objective it is imperative to recognise and use the transformative power of a dynamic ecological diplomacy.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. All

First published in the Bangkok Post on March 23, 2008.



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

3 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Dr Ioan Voicu is a Visiting Professor at Assumption University in Bangkok

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Ioan Voicu

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Ioan Voicu
Article Tools
Comment 3 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy