Archived press release

Delhi climate talks - update

31 October 2002

With 24 hours to go, UN climate talks are showing no signs of a breakthrough. The Indian conference president, Mr Shri TR Baalu, has reissued a draft Delhi Declaration – the final ministerial document which is supposed to summarise the status of international climate talks and show the way forward for the implementation of the Climate Convention. The new draft is weak and demonstrates the lack of progress made at COP8 on tackling dangerous climate change

The initial Indian draft Declaration, released on Monday, did not include any reference to the Kyoto Protocol, or to the latest findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). References to Kyoto and the IPCC have been included in the current version, following a reference to Kyoto in the submissions of the EU and G77, and to the IPCC in the submissions of the Umbrella Group and the EU. The text of the reissued draft document is based almost entirely on recycled language from the World Summit for Sustainable Development and previous climate conferences, and fails to advocate deeper emissions reductions. The only new component in the Declaration is a call for effective adaptation measures; but this reflects the fact that no real decisions have been taken on this issue at COP8.

The issue of reporting for developing countries is still deadlocked over what developing countries must report on and what can be voluntarily supplied in their National Communications. Many developing countries see the suggested reporting requirements as too stringent, or a precursor to the setting of developing country emissions targets, while industrialised countries see comprehensive reporting as an obligation.

The funding negotiations are on hold until the reporting issue can be resolved. On the few issues where governments have agreed to a work programme this week, like public education and technology transfer, no conclusions can be reached until the funding issue is resolved. However, donor countries agreed to support the full cost of developing country National Communications in Marrakech (at COP7 bis) so, theoretically, the two discussions do not need to proceed sequentially.

So far, industrialised countries are refusing to deliver on their funding commitments in order to exact mandatory developing country reporting requirements. These issues are now being discussed in a closed high-level meeting.

Friends of the Earth International climate campaigner Kate Hampton said:
"Strong leadership is urgently needed to resolve outstanding issues and end North-South polarisation. Instead of waiting idly for entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, governments should be increasing momentum and carving a path towards an equitable and adequate global agreement to save the climate."

For background information, see:
www.foei.org/media/2002/1021.html

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust