The UN COP20 talks in Lima, Peru have concluded. The final document is derided as weak, but it is significant that it says all countries, not just the rich ones, must act. Remember, Lima was not supposed to create global law, merely to provide a framework for a Paris 2015 treaty.
Since so many individual countries haven't managed to pass tough binding legislation on their own turf, it is remarkable that 190 disparate countries found any agreement -- even at a low level. The most significant climate actions are being taken at other than state level. And more and more, the people are demanding action.
Note: Recent announcements by China, the United States and European Union, who comprise approximately 53% of global emissions, have bent the world's warming curve away from 4 or 6°C down to 3 +/- .1 °C.
http://climateactiontracker.org/news/178/China-US-and-EU-post-2020-plans-reduce-projected-warming.html A few tweets:
@ClimateReality: The goal of Lima? To create a framework requiring all nations to put forward plans over the next six months to cut their own emissions.
@rtcc_sophie: Text includes: language on adaptation, greater balance across elements, CBDR, finance, loss and damage… #COP20
@brandoncwu: New text has nice new words & references re adaptation, finance, loss & damage, carefully placed to have absolutely no legal meaning #COP20
@EricHolthaus: "Lima Call for Climate Action" is anything but... though at least #COP20 isn't a complete collapse. UN process seems increasingly irrelevant
@rtcc_sophie: Of course it makes perfect sense that a meeting about future of planet would start around midnight when no one's slept for 48 hours. #COP20
Tcktcktck has a good summary of the COP20 agreement, pulling no punches.
Overall, this COP shows governments are disconnected from their people who are worried about climate risks and want a just transition to boost our economies, deliver jobs and strengthen public health. Increasingly domestic issues, whether they are elections or decisions about major projects such as the Keystone XL pipeline in the US and the Galilee basin in Australia, will be seen as a country’s intention on climate change. While governments were able to hide in Lima, they won’t have that luxury in Paris where the world will be expecting them to deliver an agreement.
http://tcktcktck.org/2014/12/daily-tck-lima-climate-talks-fall-short-expectations-attention-shifts-paris/65760Reuters: Not enough for 2°, but agreement does say all countries, rich and poor, must act.
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN0JS04520141214London, The Telegraph: Lima climate change summit: 'weak' UN deal could let countries dodge green pledges
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/environment/climatechange/11292872/Lima-climate-change-summit-weak-UN-deal-could-let-countries-dodge-green-pledges.htmlWWF:
“Governments crucially failed to agree on specific plans to cut emissions before 2020 that would have laid the ground for ending the fossil fuel era and accelerated the move toward renewable energy and increased energy efficiency."
http://www.wwf.org.uk/about_wwf/press_centre/scottish_press_centre/?7418/UN-climate-talks-fail-to-deliver-progress-despite-hottest-year-on-record---WWF-commentClimate Reality gives the positive spin:
First, this has been a critical two weeks with many reasons for #ClimateHope and signs that the tide is finally turning in our favor. Second, we have a lot of work to do between now and December 2015 to get the agreement we need.
http://climaterealityproject.org/blog/cop20-brief@ClimateReality: .@UN negotiators now praise US & China–once outcasts of the climate community–for their climate commitments
http://t.co/8uDaMcoauU #COP20
The UN's announcement:
UN: Lima Call for Climate Action Puts World on Track to Paris 2015
http://newsroom.unfccc.int/3587.aspxNoted: Important steps to bring education back into the spotlight
@cinulima: #COP20 Educación y participación pública claves p/ promover #desarrollosostenible resiliente.
https://mobile.twitter.com/cinulima/status/543969578947477504/photo/1And here is the document:
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2014/cop20/eng/l14.pdf