It's time for action!!

"Prospects for a climate deal: There is still hope", by Kriton Arsenis

The new International Climate Change Conference started on Monday in Cancun, Mexico. However, after the failure in Copenhagen expectations are low.

The result will depend heavily on the stance of the two biggest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters, China and USA. The rejection of the Cap and Trade Bill in the US Congress, the recent election results and the loss of the Democratic Party's majority in the Senate, draw however a gloomy picture on USA's political willingness and ability to ratify an international agreement to reduce GHG emissions.

China, on the other hand, has a stagnant stance in international negotiations but takes mitigation measures unilaterally. Although China refused at Copenhagen last year to allow international agreement on the setting of CO2 reduction targets, it invests heavily on clean energy, and announces the approval of a national Climate Change law, introducing a number of mandatory requirements, regardless of the international efforts.

The only hope now is that the successful results in the COP 10 Biodiversity Conference in Nagoya will create a new dynamic in the negotiations under the UNFCCC.

The Conference aims at "revealing" the details and the structure of the 30 billion dollar fund pledged under the Copenhagen Accord, whose aim is to provide less developed countries with finance for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Furthermore, a revised mitigation and adaptation mechanism known as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus (REDD+) will be negotiated. This is an effort to strengthen the role of biodiversity conservation in mitigating climate change and to create financial value for the carbon stored in forests, offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development.

The failure to conclude an agreement in either of these two issues would signal the possible collapse of the negotiations on a climate deal, leaving the final hope of mankind on unilateral measures taken by each country separately.

Whatever the expectations for Cancun may be, the Mexican Presidency will have the chance to turn the meeting into a success. The case of Japan that led the world to two very important agreements i.e. the Kyoto Protocol on climate change and last month's agreement on biodiversity in Nagoya sets a precedent that all countries hosting international environmental negotiations should study carefully. It shows that when a host country is proactive in proposing compromises which take everyone's views on board, and manages the negotiations in a determined and effective manner, miracles can happen.

Kriton Arsenis, MEP

S&D are ready to work with the Commission for the success in Cancun

The European Parliament supports the progressive initiative to push for a 30 per cent reduction of CO2 emissions instead of just 20 per cent before 2020.

S&D made it clear during the plenary debate on the Cancun Climate talks: we should not wait for US or China to implement the right environmental policy. It will be good both for the environment and for job creation.

The European commissioner for Climate Connie Hedegaard told MEPs that she will be informing them "at every stage in the process of the negotiation in Cancun."

The committed herself to daily brief the delegation. "We'll be closely working together," she promised.

S&D want to see the EU speaking with one voice and trying to get as many actors on board as possible to push a more ambitious agenda.

Vicepresident Marita Ulvskog calls for optimism and hard work: "Let's not have low expectations for Cancun! We need to act together with others in many important decisions that will be decided in Cancun with regards to forestry issues, the Kyoto commitments... If we act together we could pave the way for a 2011 international climate agreement," she said.